Spurs announce ex-Chelsea and Inter man Antonio Conte as new manager

Antonio Conte has been named as the new manager of Tottenham Hotspur.

A whirlwind 24-hour period saw the north London club sack under-fire boss Nuno Espirito Santo after just 17 games in charge, before swooping for the former Chelsea manager who had been without a club since leaving Inter at the end of last season.

Speaking to the official Tottenham Hotspur club website, Conte said: “I am extremely happy to return to coaching, and to do so at a Premier League club that has the ambition to be a protagonist again.

“Tottenham Hotspur has state-of-the-art facilities and one of the best stadiums in the world.

“I can’t wait to start working to convey to the team and the fans the passion, mentality and determination that have always distinguished me, as a player and as a coach.

“Last summer our union did not happen because the end of my relationship with Inter was still too recent and emotionally too involved with the end of the season, so I felt that it wasn’t yet the right time to return to coaching.

“But the contagious enthusiasm and determination of Daniel Levy in wanting to entrust me with this task had already hit the mark. Now that the opportunity has returned, I have chosen to take it with great conviction.”

Commenting on the appointment, Spurs managing director - football, Fabio Paratici, added: “We are delighted to welcome Antonio to the Club. His track record speaks for itself, with vast experience and trophies in both Italy and England.

“I know first-hand the qualities Antonio can bring to us, having worked with him at Juventus, and look forward to seeing his work with our talented group of players.”

Conte took the Premier League by storm when was named Chelsea manger in the summer of 2016, and his side marched their way to the league title as their opponents routinely failed to cope with their use of wing-backs, which led to a revival of the back three in top tier English football.

While the Blues won the FA Cup the following season, they failed to qualify for the Champions League, and Conte was given his marching orders at the end of the campaign.

A born winner, the 52-year-old picked up his first managerial honour back in 2008/09, when he took Bari to the Serie B title. Following subsequent spells with Atalanta and Sienna, Conte won three Serie A titles on the trot with Juventus, before winning the domestic top tiers with both Chelsea and Inter.

The Italian take charge of his first game as Spurs manager on Thursday evening, when his side host Vitesse in the Europa Conference League.

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