Premier League giants Chelsea are set to appoint Antonio Conte as their next manager, according to Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport. The publication adds that club owner Roman Abramovich broke the news to players at the Cobham training ground on February 26, a day before their Premier League clash with Southampton.
The report also suggests that the Chelsea owner was initially interested in signing Diego Simeone but the deal failed to materialize. The Italian manager is expected to take over the Stamford Bridge for the next three seasons as Guus Hiddink’s replacement.
Several media houses also confirmed the deal:
BREAKING NEWS: Sky Sources - Chelsea expected to appoint Antonio Conte as manager on three-year deal within next ten days
— Sky Sports News HQ (@SkySportsNewsHQ) February 25, 2016
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Antonio Conte set for Chelsea job after holding talks over £6m-per-year Blues deal https://t.co/klY4tzSG8w #cfc pic.twitter.com/z72YhW5UtJ
— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) February 26, 2016
Antonio Conte’s fact file:
Date of birth: 31 July 1969 (46 years old)
Coaching career: Arezzo in 2006, Bari in 2007, Atalanta in 2009, Siena in 2010, Juventus in 2011, Italy in 2014.
Managerial honors: Won the Serie B with Bari in 2008/09, emerged the runners up in Serie B with Siena in 2010/11, won the Serie A with Juventus in 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14. Emerged the runners up in the Coppa Italia with Juventus in 2011/12.