.jpg)
By David Owen
April 15 - Guus Hiddink (pictured), the internationally renowned Dutch football manager, is to go to Korea at the end of this month as part of his efforts to help the Dutch/Belgian World Cup bid.
Interviewed in Istanbul, the recently appointed manager of the Turkish national team told insideworldfootball that he would have a meeting with Dr Chung Mong-Joon, the South Korean member of FIFA’s Executive Committee, “for the Holland bid, but also for my Foundation”.
Bidding contests for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups are being held simultaneously, with 11 countries engaged in races for one or both competitions.
Hiddink has particularly strong links with two other bidders besides his native Holland, having managed both the South Korean and Australian teams at different World Cups.
Questioned about his stance, Hiddink said he was “helping the bid for Holland for 2018” because he thought that year’s World Cup would be given to Europe.
He indicated that he might in time also give support to countries thought to have a better chance of winning in 2022.
This version of FIFA’s flagship competition is now generally expected to go to the United States or Asia.
“I have to split myself up into three or four persons, which I don’t do,” Hiddink said.
Hiddink is perhaps even more of a hero in South Korea than Holland, having guided the national team to an improbable fourth spot in the 2002 World Cup, which the country co-hosted.
But his Australian team also performed creditably in Germany four years later, reaching the second round before being eliminated, rather unluckily, by Italy, the tournament’s eventual winners.
Prior to accepting the Turkish job, Hiddink managed the national team of Russia, another bidder, for four years, though the team failed to qualify for this year’s World Cup in South Africa.
He has moreover managed club sides in Spain and England, both of which are also involved in bids.
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734801498labto1734801498ofdlr1734801498owedi1734801498sni@n1734801498ewo.d1734801498ivad1734801498