Antonio Conte has been confirmed as Tottenham’s new manager on a contract to June 2023, with an option to extend. The Italian, who won the Premier League with Chelsea in 2017, replaces Nuno Espírito Santo, who was sacked on Monday November 1st 2021.
Talks with Conte opened on Saturday after Spurs were beaten 3-0 by Manchester United and have been overseen by the managing director of football, Fabio Paratici, who had a successful spell with Conte at Juventus from 2011-14. Conte, who won Serie A with Internazionale last season, has been offered assurances, including over transfers, that convinced him to take the job five months after he turned down the club’s offer to replace José Mourinho. Nuno was appointed a few weeks later but was dismissed after 17 matches.
“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,” Conte said. “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.” Added Conte.
Tottenham play at home to Vitesse in the Europa Conference League on Thursday and are at Everton in the Premier League on Sunday. They are ninth after five defeats in their opening 10 league games.
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.”
Conte departed Inter by mutual consent in May, just three weeks after leading the club to a first Serie A title in 11 years, adding to the three Italian league titles he claimed with Juventus between 2011 and 2014. He became embroiled in a dispute with the club's owners after they proposed a downsizing of his squad, with Inter chairman Steven Zhang reportedly asking Conte to cut his wage bill by 15 to 20 per cent.
Conte had joined Inter after leaving Chelsea, where he became one of just four managers to win the Premier League in his first season in English football. Despite winning the FA Cup in his second season at Stamford Bridge, the former Italy boss was dismissed after a fifth-placed league finish. Conte's record of 51 victories from 76 games gives him the second-highest win rate of coaches who have taken charge of at least 50 Premier League games, trailing only Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.
Tottenham fixtures:
November 4: Tottenham vs Vitesse Arnhem - Europa Conference League, kick-off 10pm
November 7: Everton vs Tottenham - Premier League, kick-off 9pm
November 21: Tottenham vs Leeds - Premier League, kick-off 6.30pm,
November 25: NS Mura vs Tottenham - Europa Conference League, kick-off 8.45pm
November 28: Burnley vs Tottenham - Premier League, kick-off 4pm
December 2: Tottenham vs Brentford - Premier League, kick-off 9.30pm