LONDON: Italy coach Antonio Conte was named as Chelsea’s new manager on Monday after the reigning Premier League champions announced he had signed a three-year deal that will start following Euro 2016.

The 46-year-old former Juventus boss took over the Italian national team in August 2014 and secured their qualification for the European Championship.

“I am happy we have made the announcement now so everything is clear and we can end the speculation,” said Conte, first tipped as a successor to interim manager Guus Hiddink at Stamford Bridge last month, in a statement on Chelsea’s website.

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

Chelsea have been without a permanent manager since the London club sacked former boss Jose Mourinho in December after they lost nine out the first 16 games of their Premier League title defence.

Under Dutch coach Hiddink, they have mounted something of a recovery and last weekend’s 4-0 win away to bottom of the table Aston Villa left Chelsea tenth in the 20-team Premier League.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2016