• Premier League

Hoddle would love Chelsea job, but backs Di Matteo

Harry Harris
March 7, 2012
Roberto Di Matteo's Chelsea reign started with a win © Getty Images
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Glenn Hoddle believes Roberto Di Matteo can land the Chelsea job on a permanent basis if he can turn results around at Stamford Bridge.

Former Chelsea manager Hoddle has said he would not mind a return to the Bridge himself, but feels that Di Matteo, who oversaw the team's FA Cup victory at Birmingham on Tuesday, deserves a chance.

"He can go on to win the FA Cup," Hoddle said. "Who knows? He might even get past Napoli and go on to the final of the Champions League. Football is funny that way, that's the beauty of the game, and that would be his big chance to stake his claim for the job."

Hoddle, who left Chelsea to take charge of England in 1996, made it clear that he would answer the call should he be offered a return.

"Yes, I would go back," Hoddle stated. "I loved my time there. I was very happy at Chelsea, but my country came calling and I left for no other reasons.

"I had a vision for the club, and would love the opportunity to go back and finish what I had started there. If they were prepared to look for an English manager, I would love to go back there - I really must say that - but I think they will probably keep with the policy of staying foreign.

"I was the last English manager to be there and that was a long, long time ago - over 15 years ago. That is staggering and I think they will probably go foreign, but it is strange because I loved working for the club. It was different then to what it is now.

"I did a good job when I was there and a lot of Chelsea fans actually say when I meet them, 'Thanks for what you did because we started something there'.

"Chelsea hadn't done much for 27 years and they could start to see the progression that was coming very quickly. It has obviously been taken on since Ken Bates was chairman and Matthew Harding died. It has been taken on with new owners and the rest is history, but I think they will go foreign."

Di Matteo now has the chance to prove himself, but it would be a huge surprise if he was eventually given the job on a permanent basis.

"I wish Robbie Di Matteo all the best and he is in pole position really. If he does well between now and the end of the season, he could find himself getting that job full-time. I know Robbie well, good luck to him. It is a difficult task but I would still say they have got a good squad there.

"They have good players and a good backer and whoever takes that job over has got an opportunity there without any shadow of a doubt so, no, I don't see it as an impossible job, not at all."

Jose Mourinho is being tipped to be offered the job and Hoddle feels that could happen. "It's not impossible," he said. "Nothing is impossible in football, absolutely not. He's making signs and signals that he might want to get out of Madrid and whatever."

Glenn Hoddle was talking at the launch of The Elite Legends Cup and the Fallen Heroes Trophy. Tickets on sale from Loftus Road next week. See www.20-20football.com for more information

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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