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Ronald Koeman has revealed he wants countryman Guus Hiddink to back him to be the next Chelsea manager.

Southampton's Dutch manager says he is ambitious to work at a big foreign club and said: “If Guus puts a good word in for me, that would be a big influence.”

Compatriot Hiddink is in his second spell as interim manager at Chelsea after answering the call from Blues owner Roman Abramovich following the sacking of Jose Mourinho last month.

Koeman, 52, was a serial title winner in Holland, where he bossed Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven. He also led Spanish side Valencia to the Copa del Rey final victory.

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He remains keen to return to the top of the game and told Dutch radio: “It is certainly something that I always have at the back of my mind.

“I always want to achieve the highest possible level. That has happened in Holland and that’s what I’d really like to achieve abroad.”

Koeman succeeded Mauricio Pochettino at Southampton in June 2014, signing a three-year deal.

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Despite an exodus of players he still managed to lead them to an impressive seventh-placed finish.

Even then, defender Nathaniel Clyne and midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin went on to be transferred away last summer, leading Koeman to veto any further departures.

The former Holland international Koeman has been openly dismissive of the quality of young players coming through the Saints’ famed youth system, and these latest comments will only add to fears he will walk away in the summer.

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