Spurs appoint head coach Conte on 18-month contract
Tottenham have appointed former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte as their new head coach.
Spurs moved quickly to hire the Italian, who has signed an initial 18-month contract, after firing Nuno Espirito Santo.
Conte, who delivered the Premier League title to Chelsea in 2016-17 ahead of Spurs, had been out of work since leaving Inter Milan at the end of last summer, having just wontheScudetto.Hehadpreviouslybeeninadvancedtalks with Spurs in June about becoming Jose Mourinho’s successor, but they broke down after the two parties were at odds over key issues.
However, managing director Fabio Paratici is now in position at the Premier League club and has a strong relationship with the 52-yearold,havingworkedwithhimat Juventus.Andthosedifferences have now been overcome, with chairman Daniel Levy looking to the serial winner to turn Spurs back into a force in English football.
“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,” Conte told the club website.
“Tottenham Hotspur has state-of-the-art facilities and oneofthebeststadiumsinthe world.
“I can’t wait to start working to convey to the team and
thefansthepassion,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 thatitwasn’tyettherighttime to return to coaching.
“But the contagious enthusiasm and determination of Daniel Levy in wanting to entrust me with this task had alreadyhitthemark.Nowthat
theopportunityhasreturned, I have chosen to take it with great conviction.”
Nuno was relieved of his duties after Levy and Paratici met on Sunday to discuss his future, with the news delivered early on Monday morning. The Portuguese was a condemned man following Saturday’s 3-0 home loss to Manchester United, when fans chanted ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’ and roundly booed him at full-time.
Spurs have lost five of the last seven Premier League
games and have gone two hours and 16 minutes without having a shot on goal.
Conte inherits a team in ninthpositioninthetable,five points off the top four after 10 games.
The Italian, who is expected to be given some funds in January to strengthen the squad, is due to take training on Tuesday and be in charge of Thursday’s Europa ConferenceLeagueclashwithVitesse Arnhem.
He becomes the fourth manager to cross the divide between Stamford Bridge and north London, following Glenn Hoddle, Andre VillasBoas and Mourinho in managing both clubs.
Paratici said: “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.”