Scratch Hiddink off your list of potential managers to replace Rafa at Liverpool. It was announced that the Dutch Master will be heading to the Bosphorus to manage Turkey. Based on his past successes - most notably taking the South Koreans to an improbable 4th place finish in the 2002 World Cup (a feat had achieved 4 years earlier with Holland in the 1998 World Cup). He again surprised many by getting the Socceroos into the knock out stages of the 2006 edition, many would argue he was unlucky to not go farther after a very questionable referee decision gifted the Italian Diving Team a injury time penalty kick.Hiddink will now take over his 5th national side - he is leaving the Russian federation after not qualifying for the World Cup but having had a very strong European Championship. Clearly based on his track record much can be expected from the Turks. This is a side that can be world beaters at times and other times fail miserably to even qualify for major tournaments. Turkey has a strong base of players and is continuing to build and taking advantage of FIFA rules by pulling in players born outside of Turkey to Turkish parents.
If the Turks from the Euros can show up, coupled with Hiddink's managerial ability they will have a legitimate chance to go deep in the next European Championships and beyond.
2 comments:
Damn that is really bad news for Belgium. I wanted them to qualify but with the Germans and Turkey now under Guus I don't think that will happen.
That group will be very tough...but Belgium has a solid and young squad so I am not ready to count them out.
Post a Comment