It has been confirmed that Italy boss Antonio Conte has been appointed as the new head coach of Premier League side Chelsea.
Line of Italians
The Italian has been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge of late as they look for a permanent replacement for former manager Jose Mourinho, who was replaced by Guus Hiddink on an interim basis.
The 46-year-old will begin a three-year-deal at the club after he completes the Euro 2016 tournament in France with the Italian national side.
Conte said that he is “proud” to be the national coach of his country and said only a role “as attractive” as the role at the current Premier League champions “could follow that”.
Conte will become the fifth Italian to manage the Blues, following in the footsteps of Gianluca Vialli, Claudio Ranieri, Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto di Matteo.
Sheer delight
Fans of the club will be excited to see such a successful manager at the club, who won three consecutive Serie A titles during his three years at Juventus, and their delight is equally shared by the hierarchy.
Chelsea's technical director, Michael Emenalo said that the club are “very pleased” to have recruited one of the most “highly regarded managers in world football.”
He continued, saying that they are “equally pleased” to have completed a deal “before the end of the current season” as it will aid the “future planning” of the club.
Club chairman, Bruce Buck also shared his delight at the impending arrival of Conte, saying that he has had a record of "consistent success" in his career "as a manager and as a player."
He continued, saying that the club "look forward" to "welcoming him" to Stamford Bridge and are "confident" that he will find all he needs to "maintain" that "high standard of achievement."