Guus Hiddink has returned to Chelsea as manager “until the end of the season” following the sacking of Jose Mourinho, the struggling Premier League champions announced on Saturday.

The experienced Dutch coach, 69, returns to a role he previously performed in 2009, when he led Chelsea to glory in the FA Cup.

“I am excited to return to Stamford Bridge,” Hiddink said in a statement on the Chelsea website.

“Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in the world, but is not where it should be at the moment. However, I am sure we can all turn this season around.

“I am looking forward to working with the players and staff at this great club and especially renewing my wonderful relationship with the Chelsea fans.”

Chelsea said Hiddink would attend their game against Sunderland on Saturday, but that first-team coach Steve Holland would take charge of the team.

Mourinho, 52, was sacked by Chelsea for the second time on Thursday after a run of nine defeats in 16 games saw them slump to within a point of the relegation zone.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich previously turned to Hiddink in February 2009 after sacking Luiz Felipe Scolari.

“The owner and the board welcome back a coach with a wealth of top-level experience and success, including his previous spell with the club in 2009 when we lifted the FA Cup,” Chelsea said in a statement.

“Mr Abramovich and the board believe that Guus has what it takes to get the best out of our talented squad.”

Well travelled and vastly experienced, Hiddink began his coaching career with PSV Eindhoven and led the club to their first ever European Cup success in 1988.

He has also managed Fenerbahce, Valencia, Real Madrid, Real Betis and Anzhi Makhachkala, as well as the national teams of the Netherlands, twice, South Korea, Australia, Russia and Turkey.

•Excerpted froma SuperSport report. Photo shows Guus Hiddink.

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