FOOTBALL

HIDDINK SET TO OVERTAKE HUGHES IN RUNNING FOR TURKEY

Hiddink looks set to edge Hughes out of the running to be the new boss of the Turkey national team

Tuesday February 9,2010

By Frank Wiechula

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GUUS Hiddink looks set to edge former Manchester City manager Mark Hughes out of the running to be the new boss of the Turkey national team.

Hughes, who was sacked at City just before Christmas and replaced by Roberto Mancini, was on the shortlist forthe national job with former Blackburn midfielder and Turkish national hero Tugay as his No2.

Hughes, who managed Wales for five years and Blackburn for four, fitted the bill, with Turkish football chiefs wanting a foreign boss to replace Fatih Terim, who quit after failing to lead his country to the World Cup finals.

But Turkish sources say ex-Chelsea chief Hiddink, who has managed Holland, South Korea, Australia and Russia, as well as club sides Real Madrid, Chelsea temporarily last season and Fenerbahce, is the favourite.

The official announcement is expected to be made within days, with Dutchman Hiddink’s No2 set to be Oguz Cetin, the current Turkish assistant manager and former Fenerbahce star. Lutfi Aribogan, the Turkish Football Federation deputy, said: “We are close to getting the signature of a world-class manager.”

Former England Under-21 coach Peter Taylor is on the shortlist to manage Nigeria.