Guus Hiddink has officially been appointed as Chelsea manager, on a caretaker basis, until the end of the current campaign - after the sacking of José Mourinho earlier in the week.

The 69-year-old Dutchman, will be welcomed back to Stamford Bridge, after another interim job in the 2008/09 campaign following Luiz Felipe Scolari's sacking.

Success in the short-term, last time

Having lifted the FA Cup during his short tenure as boss previously, all eyes will be on how he can try to fix Chelsea's current issues - halfway into the current Premier League season. Mourinho was consequently sacked as negative results continued to pile on the pressure, and the side's shortcomings have been exposed time, and time again recently by teams you'd previously expect them to comfortably beat.

Having managed twelve teams - both a mix of clubs and countries - since taking over at PSV Eindhoven in 1987, Hiddink is not expected to take over as the permanent successor to Mourinho in west London. Despite this though, the Dutchman has plenty of European pedigree and will be hoping to shift the Blues away from their disappointing form, to say the least, this term.

Blues faltering, can Hiddink get them back on song?

Announced earlier this afternoon, Hiddink was quoted as saying he was "excited to return" by the club's official website.

"Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in the world, but is not where it should be at the moment." He was adamant though, that the team can collectively "turn this season around", and finish strongly after a stuttering start. In their first 16 games, they've only picked up 15 points. Languishing in an underwhelming 16th place, they are eleven points behind the top six in the League.

Hiddink will be in attendance for this afternoon's home fixture with fellow strugglers Sunderland, but Steve Holland will take control of first-team matters for the game, alongside Eddie Newton, acting as assistant first-team coach after Mourinho's staff were also dismissed.

Atlético Madrid's Diego Simeone and Bayern boss Pep Guardiola have both been heavily linked with the managerial vacancy in the summer - but nothing has been confirmed in terms of a long-term replacement, yet.

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About the author
Mosope Ominiyi
Writer and editor - European football analyst, youth enthusiast. Email: [email protected]