Antonio Conte is Chelsea’s new manager

(FILES) This file photo taken on November 09, 2015 shows Italy’s national football team coach Antonio Conte smiling as he attends the presentation of the new jersey of the Italian national football team for the EURO 2016 tournament in Florence. Italy coach Antonio Conte was on April 4, 2016 named as Chelsea’s new manager on a three-year deal starting after Euro 2016, the Premier League club announced. / AFP / ANDREAS SOLARO

Antonio Conte has been named Jose Mourinho’s permanent successor as Chelsea boss, ending months of speculation and allowing the Blues to plan for next season.

The 46-year-old Italian will take up his role as Chelsea’s first-team head coach on a three-year contract after managing Italy in this summer’s European Championships.

Conte said on chelseafc.com: “I am happy we have made the announcement now so everything is clear and we can end the speculation.

“I will continue to focus on my job with the Italian national team and will reserve speaking about Chelsea again until after the Euros.”

Despite not taking up the job until after Euro 2016, Conte will now have the opportunity to shape Chelsea’s strategy ahead of his first game, at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl against Liverpool in the International Champions Cup on July 27.

Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia said: “We are very pleased to have recruited one of the most highly regarded managers in world football and we are equally pleased to do so before the end of the current season. This aids our future planning.”
One of Conte’s first tasks will be to decide the future of captain John Terry.

The 35-year-old defender in January announced he would be leaving Chelsea at the end of the season, but the club insisted a contract offer could be forthcoming.

Chelsea’s players, some of whom reportedly want to leave given the absence of Champions League football next term, may also be appeased by the end of the uncertainty over the identity of their boss.

• Culled from Sportinglife.com

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