English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur have appointed former Chelsea and Inter Milan boss Antonio Conte as their new manager until summer 2023.
The London club sacked Nuno Espirito Santo on Monday after just 17 games, with Spurs languishing in eighth place in the league.
Tottenham said that there is “an option to extend” 52-year-old Conte’s deal with them.
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. 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.”
Former Italy boss said, “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 [Tottenham chairman] Daniel Levy in wanting to entrust me with this task had already hit the mark.”
Conte said, “Now that the opportunity has returned, I have chosen to take it with great conviction.”
Hailing the Italian manager’s credentials, Tottenham managing director of football Fabio Paratici said, “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’s impressive track record
The Italian returns to London after winning the Premier League in the 2016-17 season, his first at Chelsea, following up with an FA Cup in his second before being sacked in 2018.
He then led Inter Milan to their first Serie A title in 11 years before leaving the club in May. Conte had been in charge for two years and Inter said that it was a mutual decision to end his contract with one year remaining.
The former Juventus and Italy coach was then in talks with Tottenham in the summer about becoming Jose Mourinho’s successor. However, negotiations were halted before Spurs appointed ex-Wolves boss Nuno at the end of June, with the Portuguese, lasting just four months.
Conte’s first game will be at home against Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem in the Europa Conference League on Thursday before Spurs play at Everton in the league on Sunday.
