Agent quells Hiddink possibility

Guus Hiddink

Published: 7:56am, 10th February 2012
Updated: 1:51pm, 10th February 2012

Guus Hiddink's "strong personal relationship" with ousted captain John Terry could rule him out of contention to be the next England manager.

The vacancy was created when Fabio Capello resigned over the Football Association board's decision to strip Terry of the captaincy while he fights a charge of racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand. Terry denies the charge.

Hiddink worked closely with Terry during a short spell with Chelsea in the second half of the 2008-09 season, and his agent Cees van Nieuwenhuizen told the Daily Telegraph: "I don't, based on previous conversations with England FA board members, imagine that it would work. Guus also has a very strong personal relationship with John Terry and would be on his side in all this."

Van Nieuwenhuizen also indicated his client would not be interested in taking on the role just for Euro 2012.

"He's not done that in the past and had always previously also been involved in qualification," he added.

Hiddink led Holland to the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup and took 2002 co-hosts South Korea to the semi-finals, although his most recent posting as Turkey coach ended in failure to qualify for Euro 2012.

Meanwhile Milan Mandaric has given his backing to bookies favourite Harry Redknapp to take over from Capello

Sheffield Wednesday chairman Mandaric and Tottenham manager Redknapp were together at Portsmouth and Mandaric believes his former colleague is the right man to take the national team forward.

Mandaric and Redknapp were both cleared of tax evasion charges relating to their time at Portsmouth on Wednesday, the same day Capello resigned and Mandaric has now backed his friend Redknapp to become the next manager of England.

He told Sky Sports News: "I don't think there is a better man than Harry Redknapp to take over England. I possibly shouldn't say that because it is not my job to talk about managers who are employees and are very happy with their job. I want England to be successful because I am a big part of English football."