Former Dutch manager Guus Hiddink to replace Jose Mourinho as Chelsea's interim manager

Guus Hiddink, the former Dutch national manager is set to take over as Chelsea's interim manager for the second time, to replace just-sacked Jose Mourinho. Hiddink could be in place at the blue's dugout in time for Saturday's evening kick-off against Sunderland.

Local media reports claim that Hiddink had been in talks with Chelsea for weeks. This will be the second time that Hiddink will slip into the role of an interim manager at Chelsea. He took over the Blues in 2009 when Luiz Felipe Scolari was sacked.

Hiddink is expected to remain as the interim manager until the end of the season as the club tries to steer the team away from a possible Premier League relegation. Mourinho was sacked by Chelsea on 17 December after the team performed poorly at the Premier League championships. They are just one point above the relegation zone.

Accompanying Mourinho out the door are Silvino Louro and Rui Faria. His assistant manager Steve Holland however will continue to remain in his position.

Hiddink is currently unemployed after resigning as Holland's manager after the team failed to reach Euro 2016. It was noted that Hiddink had a successful stint at Chelsea in 2009 when Chelsea beat Everton in the Wembley final to take home the FA Cup.

The same year, the Blues settled for a third place finish in the Premier League and the semi-finals of the Champions League. Telegraph's Football tweeted developments at Chelsea with the following:

Sky Sports said former Blues striker Mateja Kezman has been quoted by the Croatian newspaper Index as saying that Hiddink had told him that he will be replacing Mourinho at Stamford Bridge. He is reported to have said: "I do not know if it is officially confirmed, whether the club has announced it, but Guus told me earlier. I am convinced that with him Chelsea will recover. I would even say they are one of the favourites for the Champions League."

Kezman briefly played under Mourinho's leadership at Stamford Bridge. He said that he was not surprised by the club's owner Roman Abramovich's decision to sack Mourinho. "Jose is a superb coach but the results and position in the league are catastrophic and unbecoming the reputation of a club like Chelsea."

He continued: "It is incredible that this team were champions last season and are now fighting for dear life in the Premier League. I think this decision is correct and Guus Hiddink is a great choice." There has been no official confirmation on Hiddink's appointment either from Chelsea or Hiddink.