After months of speculation, Chelsea have now confirmed that head coach Antonio Conte has parted ways with the Premier League.
From the midway stage of last season, the former Juventus boss was being tipped to leave Stamford Bridge and that talk heightened when the Blues failed to qualify for the Champions League.Despite winning the Premier League title two years ago and collecting the FA Cup at Wembley last term, the Chelsea board have decided now is time to part company with Conte.
The Italian spent two years at the Bridge, after leaving his role as Italian team boss, and is now on the lookout for a new job although there will surely be no shortage of interested parties.
During his tenure, Conte set a club record for 13 consecutive league victories and had a Premier League win percentage of 67.1% – better than Sir Alex Ferguson.
In a statement, Chelsea confirmed his exit saying: During Antonio’s time at the club, we won our sixth league title and eighth FA Cup.
In the title-winning season, the club set a then-record 30 wins in a 38-game Premier League season, as well as a club-record 13 consecutive league victories.
“We wish Antonio every success in his future career.”
Despite claims that Conte froze out some of the first-team squad, one of the Chelsea players has already praised the 48-year-old for the job he did at Stamford Bridge.
Cesc Fabregas tweeted: “Thank you Mister for another Premier League title and FA Cup. It wasn’t easy for me to convince you in the beginning, but in the end I hope I did you proud! Good luck for the future.”
Former Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri is now expected to move to Stamford Bridge with the new season just a month away.
Sarri left the Serie A club at the end of last season and it’s been long thought he would be the man to replace Conte at Chelsea.
The 59-year-old could be appointed as Conte’s successor as early as this weekend, with Napoli’s lawyer suggesting a deal has already been agreed.
