Home Football Chelsea confirm appointment of Antonio Conte

Chelsea confirm appointment of Antonio Conte

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Conte will join the Blues following Italy’s Euro 2016 campaign

Chelsea have agreed a three-year deal to bring Italy boss Antonio Conte to Stamford Bridge, with the 46-year-old set to take the reigns from interim boss Guus Hiddink.

It has been speculated about for some time that the former Juventus boss, who won three Serie A titles with The Old Lady, was set stand down from his post with Italy, to return to club management.

The Italian will become Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich’s 10th managerial appointment, since buying the club in 2004, after the sacking of Jose Mourinho back in December.

However, Conte is set earn far less than his predecessor, with the Portuguese understood to have earned as much as £13 million per year, compared a deal believed to be agreed at around £5-6 million a year for the Italian.

Exited and proud

“I am very excited about the prospect of working at Chelsea Football Club. I am proud to be the coach of the national team of my country and only a role as attractive as manager of Chelsea could follow that,” Conte said, after completing a drawn-out move to Stamford Bridge.

“I am looking forward to meeting everyone at the club and the day-to-day challenge of competing in the Premier League.”

Conte arrived in London on Sunday to start negotiations with the club, which included his agent and brother Daniel. While his other brother, Gianluca, will join him at the Bridge as assistant manager.

A full back room staff rejig is expected, with Angelo Alessio, Massimo Carrera and Mauro Sandreani and fitness coach Paolo Bertalli all to join Conte in west London.

Passionate

And with the deal now over the line, Conte is immediately thinking about returning success to Chelsea, who are about to have their fourth trophyless season, under Abramovich’s reign.

“Chelsea and English football are watched wherever you go, the fans are passionate and my ambition is to have more success to follow the victories I enjoyed in Italy.” Conte added.

“I am happy we have made the announcement now so everything is clear and we can end the speculation. I will continue to focus on my job with the Italian national team and will reserve speaking about Chelsea again until after the Euros.”

Talks began between the parties back in February, with Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia conducting the talks. And Conte will hope his reign will last longer than the Blues’ recent managers.

Mourinho was sacked for the second time at the back end of last year, having won the Premier League just six months earlier. But Conte will begin his reign as Chelsea boss without European football, and it will be expected of the 46-year-old to immediately return them to Europe’s elite competition.

Some had hoped Hiddink would remain as boss on a permanent basis – having not lost in the Premier League, since taking over in his second interim spell in charge, and losing just four games overall.

Conte guided Italy to the European Championships on the back of an unbeaten qualifying campaign, which was made up of seven wins and three draws.

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