In the Dugout – The Managers

After a season dominated by red the blues of Chelsea and Everton meet in the final of the World’s oldest cup competition as they line up at Wembley.  The two managers will both be seeking their first major win in the English game with Guus Hiddink looking to add to his glittering tally and David Moyes looking to land his first managerial silverware.

Hiddink has been a breath of fresh air in the English game having immersed himself in it during his brief tenure at Stamford Bridge. When interviewed the Dutchman has been thoughtful and insightful and it appears that he would have loved to be in the Premiership permanently. Hiddink took tiny South Korea to a World Cup semi final, one of the most astonishing managerial feats in modern times. Chelsea are looking at Carlo Ancelotti, who’s star seems to be waning, when maybe Roman Abramovich should move heaven and earth to sign up Hiddink who has transformed a sluggish Chelsea into a real force. Had he been in charge all season who knows what Chelsea could have done?

David Moyes is the most highly rated manager of his generation with whispers that Old Trafford might beckon in his future as Sir Alex Ferguson’s anointed successor. Moyes has the same calmness of hiddink but with an edge of gaelic passion redolent of the great man from Govan. Moyes has Everton on the brink of the Champions’ League without a large budget and he has made some cracking buys along the way. When you consider he spent virtually the whole season without his first choice front line the fifth placed finish shows that hard work and a team who believe in each other can go far. Most neutrals who know the game would accept that the Dutchman and the Scot are two wily individuals.

Bob "The Voice" McKenzie Twitter: @BobTheVoice About: