Chelsea to appoint Guus Hiddink as new manager

Guus Hiddink is set to take over as Chelsea manager until the end of the season.

The 69-year-old Dutchman will return to Stamford Bridge for a second spell as interim manager, after Jose Mourinho was sacked on Thursday.

The Portuguese was dismissed just seven months after guiding the Blues to the Premier League title - but such had been their fall from grace in the intervening period that his dismissal wasn't a shock.

Sitting 16th in the table, the champions have won just four times in their opening 16 matches this term, earning just 15 points.

Mourinho's final match in charge - the 2-1 defeat to shock league leaders Leicester City - was his side's NINTH league defeat of a dismal season.

Now Hiddink will return to the club, having proven hugely popular with players, the board and fans during his first spell.

The Dutchman arrived in February 2009, following Luiz Felipe Scolari's ill-fated seven month stint in charge. He lost only once in the Premier League, took the side to the semi-finals of the European Cup - where they were a matter of minutes from beating eventual winners Barcelona - and won the FA Cup, beating Everton in the final.

Blues skipper John Terry and then-goalkeeper Petr Cech both implored the club's hierarchy to persuade Hiddink to stay on a long-term deal. However, Hiddink had vowed to remain in his role as Russia boss, always stating that his appointment was only for a short period.