Guus Hiddink factfile

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Guus Hiddink has been appointed as manager of Chelsea until the end of the season.

1946: Born November 8 in Varsseveld, Holland.

1967: Makes his professional debut with De Graafschap.

1970: Joins PSV Eindhoven but fails to secure a regular first-team place.

1972: Returns to De Graafschap.

1976: Moves to the United States for two years in the North American Soccer League with the Washington Diplomats and the San Jose Earthquakes.

1978: Returns to Holland for a spell with NEC Nijmegen.

1981: Spends one last year playing at De Graafschap, before beginning his coaching career there.

1984: Joins PSV as assistant coach.

1987: Appointed coach of PSV, leading them to their European Cup win in his first full season in charge as well as claiming three consecutive Eredivisie titles.

1990: Joins Fenerbahce but was sacked after just one year.

1991: Appointed coach of Valencia in Spain where he proves popular despite failing to win trophies.

1995: Appointed as coach of Holland.

1996: Leads Holland at Euro 96. Sends Edgar Davids home after clashing with the midfielder. Hiddink's team are knocked out by France on penalties in the quarter-finals.

1998: Leads Holland to the semi-finals of the World Cup where they are beaten by Brazil. Resigns as Holland coach soon afterwards.

Appointed as coach of Real Madrid but lasts less than a year before being sacked.

1999: Spends the end of the 1998/99 season with Real Betis, but is again sacked.

2001: Appointed coach of World Cup joint hosts South Korea and is initially criticised for not giving the job his full attention.

2002: Leads South Korea, who had never previously won a World Cup game, to the semi-finals with victory over Spain in the quarters. Eventually beaten by Germany.

Appointed coach of PSV for a second time, winning three more league titles and leading them to a Champions League semi-final.

2005: Appointed manager of Australia, taking them to the World Cup courtesy of a play-off victory over Uruguay.

2006: Australia, who had never previously won a World Cup game, reach the second round in Germany before being beaten 1-0 by Italy thanks to a controversial penalty.

Appointed coach of Russia.

2007: February - Fined and given a six-month suspended prison sentence in Holland for tax fraud.

November - Russia qualify for Euro 2008 at the expense of England.

2008: March - Signs a new contract, taking him through to the 2010 World Cup.

June - Leads Russia to the semi-finals of Euro 2008 with a run which includes victory over Holland in the quarters, before losing to eventual champions Spain.

2009: February 10 - Emerges as Chelsea's number one target to lead the team on a permanent basis - and is granted permission to talk to the Stamford Bridge club by the Russian Football Union.

February 11 - Chelsea appoint Hiddink as manager until the end of the season.