After what has been nothing short of a dramatic start to the season for just about everyone in the Premiere League, Tottenham Hotspur have officially announced that former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte will be their new manager. The North London side also announced there was “an option to extend” the contract.
The news comes in the wake of the announcement that Spurs had sacked Nuno Espirito Santo on Monday after a disappointing start to the season, which has left the team eighth in the table.
The former Juventus and Italy coach had originally been in the running to take over Tottenham in the summer, but Spurs ultimately appointed Nuno at the end of June.
Speaking on the announcement, 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.”
Fabio Paratici, Spurs’ managing director of football, said that Conte’s “track record speaks for itself, with vast experience and trophies in both Italy and England.” He added, “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 first game in charge will be at home against Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem in the Europa Conference League on Thursday. His first Premiership match will be against Everton on Sunday.
