Then there is the Roman Abramovich factor. He is a personal friend of Hiddink and is the owner of Chelsea, but also pays a significant part of the Dutchman’s multi-million euro a year contract to coach the Russian national football team.

“The good thing that Abramovich, who is linked to Chelsea, is also linked to Russian football and he makes a great contribution for the national team as well as to the education of young footballers,” Hiddink said

However, there’s another twist to the Hiddink saga. Russia’s head coach hasn’t been paid for the last three months, but he says money isn’t an issue and he won’t quit the national team.

“Money is not the biggest thing in the world. What I like to do most is help people,” Russia’s coach said.

It seems the uncertainty around Hiddink’s future isn’t getting to the players, and Russia’s captain Sergey Semak said he’d be happy for the Dutchman to combine the two roles,

“I think Hiddink can decide on his own whether he can combine the work with the national team and with Chelsea. He’s taking extra responsibility on himself, but I don’t think it will somehow affect the Russian team,” Sergey Semak said.

It is likely there will be a few more unknowns concerning the future of one of the world’s best and most respected head coaches, but Russian football fans can take a big sigh of relief, as even if their messiah does decide to join Chelsea on a short term contract, he will still stay on as Russia’s manager.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Sport Express newspaper reports, Chelsea understands that Hiddink is not interested in a long term contract with the club, but it will try to keep the coach for more than three months – meaning at least another season.

In this case Chelsea may promise to pay up the Russian Football Union’s debt, which is estimated at around $US 3.5 million.