Arsenal legend Ray Parlour has urged Chelsea to appoint Guus Hiddink as their permanent manager.
The Dutchman was appointed as the Blues’ first-team interim manager until the end of the season in December. He replaced Jose Mourinho as the west London club’s manager after the former Real Madrid coach was relieved from his duties at Stamford Bridge, just months after helping Chelsea win the title last May.
Italy coach Antonio Conte’s contract with the national side will run down after the end of the summer’s European Championships. The ex-Juventus boss is the front runner to be Chelsea’s next manager.
Roman Abramovich, the Blues owner, is reportedly set to meet Conte in Monte Carlo as they look to finalise the Italian manager’s appointment for the next season. However, the former Arsenal midfielder has advised Chelsea’s Russian owner to reject a chance to appoint Conte and make Hiddink as the club’s manager.
“I am amazed. Why not? He is such an experienced manager and he would probably really look forward to trying to win the Premier League [next season],” Parlour told Talksport.
“Conte looks like he is getting the job but everybody is playing well under Hiddink. He has gone back to basics, everybody is smiling and everybody is playing well – why not carry it on for next season?
“He has got a good coaching staff around him and he can have a real go at trying to win the Premier League back.”
Since Hiddink took charge of Chelsea in December, the Premier League champions are undefeated in the Premier League and the FA Cup. In addition to this, they have lost only one match in all competitions, which came during their 2-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
After a disappointing start to the season under Mourinho, Chelsea have looked impressive since Hiddink was appointed as the club’s interim manager.
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