I Was Leicester’s First Choice Before Ranieri – Guus Hiddink

Guus Hiddink has revealed he was Leicester City’s first choice to take the managerial job before the newly-crowned Premier League champions appointed Claudio Ranieri.

The experienced Dutch coach rejected the Foxes, owing to him wanting to take a break from football after leaving his role as Netherlands boss in late June.

The East Midlands club ultimately turned to sacked Greece boss Ranieri ahead of the 2015-16 campaign and it proved to be a wise decision after the Italian lead the relegation survivors to domestic glory.

“It is true that Leicester asked me (to be their coach) for this season,” Hiddink told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.

“But I had decided this was a time for rest, and I wanted to do just nothing.”

The 69-year-old eventually took up a temporary position at Stamford Bridge for the second time following the sacking of Jose Mourinho in December.

However, despite rejoining the club while at their lowest point, Hiddink claims he has no reservations about taking up the role.
“The club was in a negative flow and there was panic,” he said. “It was my task to restore a calm atmosphere and that happened. If we kept losing, even to a club as Chelsea could have gotten in big problems. Just like nobody expected that Leicester became champions, that could have happened.

“It turned out a great half season and I want to close it good with these last three matches. I don’t regret it for one moment that I said ‘yes’ to Chelsea. The Premier League is top of the bill and it’s fantastic that I could have a second spell.”