Three time Serie A winning boss favourite for the Chelsea hot seat
Published:
Guus Hiddink may continue to lead Chelsea on an unbeaten run under his tenureship, but that hasn’t stopped him being usurped in the betting to be in the Stamford Bridge hot seat next season.
The Dutchman has guided the Blues to three wins and four draws since taking temporary charge from Jose Mourinho in December, but he is now 4/1 second favourite to take charge next season.
The man now at the head of the betting is former Juventus boss Antonio Conte, who has been cut into 6/4 having been a 7/1 chance this time last week.
Some newspapers reported that the Premier League champions had held talks with the Italian last weekend, seeing the odds shortened to 7/2, but sustained betting support has seen his price cut into the current offering.
The 46-year-old is currently in charge of the Italian national team, but it is believed that he would be prepared to step down from international duties after Euro 2016 to get back into club management.
During his spell in charge of the Old Lady Conte claimed three Serie A titles, going on to be named as the league’s best coach in each of those seasons.
A win percentage of 67 per cent at the Turin club saw them rise from the phoenix of the 2006 match fixing scandal to claim their first (legitimate) title in nine years.
Having brought Juve back from a period of discontent, the Chelsea hierarchy may well see Conte as the prime candidate to restore order in west London, with a top half finish still looking far from certain.
The bookies believe the Blues will finish in the top 10 this season, with a price of 4/11 on offer, but should they fail to finish above the fold, Hiddink’s time at the Bridge is unlikely to go much further than the summer.
And if he is moved on at the end of the campaign, it is looking increasingly likely that Conte will be the man to replace him.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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