Troussier, Hiddink ‘bid for Ivory Coast job’

MUCH-TRAVELLED French coach Philippe Troussier is vying with Dutch master Guus Hiddink to be the Ivory Coast’s coach at the World Cup finals in June, a Japanese newspaper reported on yesterday.

 “I got an offer (from the Ivory Coast), but there is another candidate. That is Mr. Hiddink,” Troussier, who led Japan to the second round of the 2002 World Cup, told the Nikkan Sports daily.
“To me, the World Cup is an interesting challenge. I definitely want to do it,” added the 54-year-old Frenchman, now general manager of FC Ryukyu, a club in Japan’s third-tier division.
After the 2002 World Cup, he coached Qatar and Morocco and became FC Ryukyu general manager in 2008.
Hiddink won worldwide fame for leading the Netherlands and South Korea to the World Cup semi-finals in 1998 – where the Dutch lost to Brazil on penalties – and 2002, respectively. He coached Australia when they narrowly lost to eventual champions Italy 1-0 – a controversial penalty – in the second round of the 2006 World Cup last-16 round. He also guided Russia to the Euro 2008 semifinals. – www.supersport.com