The 52-year-old Italian has signed an 18-month deal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as he replaced Nuno Espirito Santo.
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Tottenham Hotspur wasted no time in finding a replacement for the recently sacked Nuno Espirito Santo. The club from North London appointed Antonio Conte as their new head coach on Tuesday. The 52-year-old Italian was reportedly targeted by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy even before appointing Nuno in the summer. A few months later, he has now penned an 18-month contract – with an option to extend – at Tottenham following successful talks with the club’s hierarchy in London. The acclaimed manager has won titles in Serie A, including a hat-trick of Scudettos with Juventus, the Premier League and also managed Italy, when he lead the Azzurri to the quarter-finals of Euro 2016.
“We are delighted to announce the appointment of Antonio Conte as our Head Coach on a contract until the summer of 2023, with an option to extend,” a club statement read. Born in Lecce, Antonio began his playing career at his home-town team (1985-1991) before achieving legendary status at Juventus (1991-2004). As a midfielder, he won five Scudettos with La Vecchia Signora, the UEFA Cup in 1993 and Champions League in 1996. He earned 20 caps for Italy and was part of squads that achieved runners-up status in the 1994 World Cup and Euro 2000.
✍️ We are delighted to announce the appointment of Antonio Conte as our Head Coach on a contract until the summer of 2023, with an option to extend.
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 2, 2021
Conte started his coaching career as an assistant in Siena in 2005 and had spells at Arezzo, Bari – where he won Serie B – and Atalanta before returning to Juventus in 2011. Notably, the Italian won the title in his first season – 2011/12 – by completing the campaign unbeaten and equalling a club-record 28-match unbeaten run set by Fabio Capello. He completed a hat-trick of titles with success in 2012/13 and 2013/14, when Juve amassed a Serie A record of 102 points.
He then took charge of the Italian team in 2014 and quickly impressed with the national side, leading them to the quarter-finals of Euro 2016 by topping their group and beating Belgium and Spain along the way. After two years in charge of the Azzurri, Conte returned to club football at Chelsea in 2016. He famously secured the Premier League title in his first season, 2016/17, with a then league record of 30 wins in 38 matches. It included a run of 13 straight victories.
Conte, who added the FA Cup to his list of honours in 2018, moved back to Italy to join Internazionale in May 2019. He finished second in Serie A in 2019/20 and reached the final of the Europa League that season. The Italian then guided Inter to their first title in 11 years in 2020/21, ending Juventus’ run of nine successive Scudettos.
Conte, on the latest development, 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.”
Speaking about the appointment, Managing Director – Football, Fabio 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.”
