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OFFICIAL: Chelsea appoint Antonio Conte

United Kingdom

Chelsea have confirmed Antonio Conte will become their new head coach following the conclusion of the European Championship.

The current Italy coach Conte who signed a three-year deal with reigning Premier League champions on Monday, will take over from interim manager Guus Hiddink.

.ChelseaFC is delighted to announce the appointment of Antonio Conte... https://t.co/prZqPkLaNE pic.twitter.com/hUu7iHVVRm

— Chelsea FC (ChelseaFC) April 4, 2016

Conte becomes the 10th boss to take charge of Chelsea since Roman Abramovich completed his takeover of the club in 2004.

The 46-year-old will officially take control after leading Italy at Euro 2016 in France in the summer.

Chelsea website quoted the Italian as saying: ‘I am very excited about the prospect of working at Chelsea Football Club. I am proud to be the coach of the national team of my country and only a role as attractive as manager of Chelsea could follow that.

“I am looking forward to meeting everyone at the club and the day-to-day challenge of competing in the Premier League.

“Chelsea and English football are watched wherever you go, the fans are passionate and my ambition is to have more success to follow the victories I enjoyed in Italy,”

The announcement came on the same day that Conte was due to go on trial charged with failing to report knowledge of match-fixing when he was in charge of Siena in 2011; he has said he is innocent. The trial is part of a criminal investigation involving more than 100 people.

As manager of Juventus, Conte led the club to three successive domestic league titles.

Italy have been drawn in Group E for the finals, along with Belgium, Sweden and Republic of Ireland.

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