GOODBYE GUUS HIDDINK!

THE Dutch call him Lucky Guus. But there has been nothing fortunate in the way Guus Hiddink has steered Chelsea's season from despair to this last day of the season in the sun.

The silverware that is the FA Cup may not glitter with quite as much fascination as the Premier League or Champions League these days - and certainly not in the eyes of the corporate suits who stalk football.

Click here for all the FA Cup Final pictures from Chelsea 2, Everton 1

Click here for pictures of Guus Hiddink's and Roman Abramovich's amazing dressing room party

Yet it did not feel that way at Wembley yesterday as Chelsea ended their campaign with an old fashioned knees-up.

And Hiddink was right there in the middle of it all, relishing it, milking the adulation and acclaim as if the old pot was the World Cup.

Rarely has a manager - or to give Hiddink his ridiculous official title, temporary first team coach - indulged in such lavish post-match celebrations after winning the FA Cup.

One recalls Bob Stokoe dancing across the pitch at the final whistle in 1973 after Second Division Sunderland overcame the might of Leeds United.

Or John Sillett's elaborate jig when Coventry won the trophy for the first time, overcoming firm favourites Tottenham in 1987.

HEAD FIRST - Didier Drogba powers home Chelsea's equaliser

But neither took centre stage for so long with such unbridled joy and pride as Hiddink did yesterday.

His delight was there for all to see as he and assistant Ray Wilkins held aloft the trophy. But can it really be true that this is, Goodbye Guus?

Yes, unless Hiddink and Chelsea have been playing the biggest game of bluff. And what a way to go.

CUP A LOAD OF THAT - Guus Hiddink (left) and Frank Lampard celebrate

But the situation prompts the obvious question: Why does Hiddink have to leave Chelsea and go back and work full time as Russia national manager? OK, that is what he has said all along.

And in a game with so many forked tongues, one has to admire Hiddink for sticking to his word. But it is hard to understand quite why, after two World Cup qualifiers this summer then a couple more before November, why such commitment comes into such conflict with the job he has been doing for Chelsea these past four months.

It seems even more ludicrous that, in the coming few days, it looks like Carlo Ancelotti will take over.

The Italian might well have a decent CV in Italy but, as Jose Mourinho has already warned, his lack of the English language and naivety of the English psyche will come as a culture shock.

By November, when Russia's World Cup fate is known, might Hiddink not just slip back into the Chelsea fold?

After all, he will either have months to prepare or have been sacked. And if Ancelotti is struggling, who better to retake the reins? There is no doubting Chelsea fans can't really fathom it.

If it is down to money and soccer politics, surely owner Roman Abramovich can resolve it - even if it means going right to the top and making a few deals with Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

It just seems insane that after the reckless sacking of Mourinho then the failed regimes of Avram Grant and Luis Felipe Scolari, Chelsea are looking to appoint yet another manager when, in Hiddink, they clearly have one of the best in the world.

There is no doubting that, after two trophy-less seasons, Chelsea fans utterly adore their Dutchman.

Just after Abide With Me was sung, a huge Chelsea flag was unfurled and passed across their end of the stadium. It read: 'Thank you, Guus.'

It was a simple statement but said so much. At the end of January, Chelsea's season was in turmoil. Under Scolari, their league form had become so erratic that the priority had become not to win a trophy but make sure of clinching a Champions League place.

DROG DAY - Didier Drogba celebrates his equaliser

Anything more would be a bonus. And when the Stamford Bridge crowd started to taunt Scolari with chants of "You don't know what you're doing", Abramovich realised the Brazilian was out of his depth.

Whichever of Abramovich's advisers suggested Hiddink was the man to turn the ship around has earned his corn. It's not as if Hiddink has done anything drastic. He even came too late to buy players in the transfer window.

What he has done is shown the qualities of a wily and experienced manager.

He has made a few subtle tactical changes but essentially kept things simple, such as persuading Nicolas Anelka he can play on the right and restore Didier Drogba as the attacking focal point. Most of all, he has revived the flagging spirit and confidence of his star players.

And even when he gets things wrong, such as not starting with Michael Ballack yesterday, he is aware enough to see it and man enough to make amends.

His calm but persuasive stature inspires - as typified by his stance on the sidelines and firm words in the dressing room.

And so, after going behind to the FA Cup final's quickest goal by Louis Saha, Chelsea did not panic. They just kept playing, eventually wearing down Everton's gallant attempt.

Once Drogba had equalised, there looked like only one winner - especially after Saha wasted the chance to put his side back in front.

It is the quality and class of players that count - providing the manager gives them the platform.

And so once Ballack had come on to free up Frank Lampard, the England midfielder produced one of the great Wembley winners to make Hiddink's and Chelsea's day.

The Blues were cut down in the dying minutes of the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona - but after that there was no way Hiddink would be denied his proud parade in front of the Chelsea fans: From Russia with love.

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