Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink has revealed that he turned down Leicester before Claudio Ranieri took over last summer.
Hiddink returned to Chelsea as interim manager for the second time in his career earlier this season following the sacking of Jose Mourinho in December.
The Dutch coach helped to stabilise the defending Premier League champions and prevent them from a potential relegation dogfight, guiding the Blues to ninth in the table.
Hiddink oversaw Chelsea's 2-2 draw against Tottenham on Monday night - a result which saw Leicester crowned champions, and resulted in an emotional thank-you message from Ranieri to Hiddink after the final whistle.
Former Chelsea coach Ranieri took over at the King Power Stadium last summer after Nigel Pearson was sacked.
Pearson had narrowly led the Foxes to safety with seven wins from their final nine games following a tense relegation battle.
The Italian coach went on to win a stunning title with Leicester, a first top-flight triumph in their 132-year history.
But Hiddink - who will make way for Antonio Conte at the Bridge this summer - says that it could have been him in the hotseat rather than Ranieri.
"It is true that Leicester asked me [to be their coach] for this season," Hiddink told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.
"But I had decided this was a time for rest, and I wanted to do just nothing."
