Guus keeps Socceroos in mind for 2010

Australias' Herald Sun says that Guss Hiddink one of the world football's most coveted football coaches has revealed that a surprise return to lead the Socceroos to the 2010 World Cup could be on the cards.

The Dutch coach told the Herald Sun that he would consider all his options once his contract with Russia -- the nation he is steering towards Euro 2008 -- is up in 19 months' time.

Hiddink also hit back at Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer over his attack on his man-management skills and said he remained in regular contact with interim coach Graham Arnold, players Lucas Neill and Mark Viduka, and several Football Federation Australia bosses.

On his possible return to the green and gold, Hiddink said: "I have ruled nothing out at this stage. I have great thoughts of my time with the Socceroos and great respect for the team.

"Anything is possible because I have a plan to coach at the World Cup in 2010 and of course my contract with Russia is until the middle of 2008.

"After that, who knows what will happen?

"Australia have continued to improve since I have left and that's good to see. I still follow them very closely.

"But my job is with Russia. It is going quite well (Russia is second in Group E behind Croatia in Euro 2008 qualifying) and they are my priority now. The team is responding well and I'm enjoying it."

Australia, which reached the final 16 in Germany, would face intense opposition from South Africa, South Korea, the Netherlands, and in all likelihood Russia to secure Hiddink's services.

Hiddink remains a strong advocate of his successor Graham Arnold.

"I'm in regular contact with Graham and I like the way he's been adapting to his job and the way he has got Australia playing," said Hiddink at the launch of his autobiography Dit Is Mign Weereld (This Is My World) in Amsterdam.

"I saw the match with Ghana in London (a 1-1 draw earlier this month) and I was impressed. Graham is doing a great job. He has got to the Asian Cup finals and that shows they are going in the right direction.

"It's not easy after the World Cup to start things up again but he learned a lot and is developing himself even more.

'I know the players are also impressed with him, so I see no urgency (for the FFA) to find somebody who has a higher profile."

Hiddink said Lucas Neill's development was one of his proudest achievements while in charge of Australia.

"There were many, but with Lucas there was great development. I switched his position from right back to central defender and he made it very easily.

"He is one of the big personalities now of the English league and I know a lot of clubs are interested in him, which doesn't surprise me."

However Hiddink took umbrage at blunt assertions by Schwarzer that his man-management skills were wanting.

And he says Schwarzer is wrong to question his well-worn methods of motivation.

"As a coach, I have the right to pick and choose the players I want at any given time." he says. "That is my job and everybody has to respect that no matter whether they agree with me or not.

"Mark Schwarzer must realise that no player can be guaranteed a starting place all the time. Even big, big players have to accept that because nobody is totally secure. Overall Mark did a good job, but of course he could have done better."