Chelsea has started negotiations with Guus Hiddink, the Dutch coach of Russian selection, to convince them to replace Luiz Felipe Scolari. The Brazilian engineer was dismissed Monday because of bad results of Blues, now fourth in Premier League.

In a statement, the Blues have indicated that they obtained from the Russian Federation permission to speak to the Dutch “to become interim coach until the end of the season, while remaining breeder of Russia.” Aged 62 years, Hiddink is a relative of Piet de Visser, counsel for the owner of football club in London, Roman Abramovich. This is also a regular financial support of the Russian Federation. Since the dismissal of Jose Mourinho in September 2007, the Dutchman is regularly cited as a potential coach of Blues.

Hiddink’s contract as a breeder of Russia expires at the end of the World-2010 in South Africa. Beyond the end of the season, it seems unrealistic to see the Dutch combine the two caps. Some coaches have already expressed their interest in the position. The agent of Dutch Frank Rijkaard said his client “would consider any serious offer” of Londoners. A charge of AC Milan, Umberto Gandini, acknowledged that the current coach of the Lombards, Carlo Ancelotti, “could reflect the position still available in July.”

The subscriber of the semi-finals

Many other names have been mentioned since leaving Scolari: Frenchman Didier Deschamps, Italian Roberto Mancini, the Israeli Avram Grant sacked by Chelsea last summer. Hiddink is one of the most experienced coaches in operation. During his career, he was in charge of PSV Eindhoven, Valencia and Real Madrid. But like Scolari, is especially breeder as he has experienced its highest feats of arms. He twice reached the semi-finals of the World Cup, the Netherlands in 1998 and, more surprisingly, South Korea in 2002. With Australia in 2006, he had less success, eliminated in 8th finals by the fault of a highly contentious penalty awarded to Italy.

A Euro-2006, he reached the semi-finals with Russia. As the Netherlands in 1998, his team had performed one of the finest, if not the most beautiful football of the tournament. If he had to temporarily take the post of Scolari, Hiddink to find a team adrift, currently 4th in the championship of England, seven points behind Manchester United. It would have little time before him, Chelsea receiving in two weeks in Turin Juventus 8th final round of the Champions League. After only seven months in office, the Brazilian was the victim results increasingly disappointing, but a growing challenge in the Blues locker room.