Euro 2016 ; Italy appoint Giampiero Ventura as Replacement for Antonio Conte

The Italian football association has appointed coach Giampiero Ventura to take over from current coach Antonio Conte who will leave the team to take over at Chelsea football club of England at the end of Euro 2016.

After weeks of speculation, Chelsea announced the appointment of Antonio Conte as first team head coach.

The club announced that the former Juventus coach signed a three-year contract and will begin work in London after leading Italy in this summer’s Euro 2016 tournament.


The 68-year-old will have a two-year deal until the end of the Russia 2018 World Cup and is expected to take several of his key staff from Torino to the Italy set-up.

The incoming manager Giampiero Ventura most recently coached Serie A side Torino and led them to 12th in the league last season.

His five-year tenure at the club – including promotion from Serie B in his first year – came to an end in May.

                                                                      Giampiero Ventura
Meanwhile, former Chelsea manager Roberto di Matteo has been appointed the new manager of relegated Aston Villa with former West Brom boss Steve Clarke named his assistant.

The Italian succeeds Remi Garde, who was sacked in March before the club’s relegation from the Premier League.

Roberto Di Matteo won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012 but was sacked in late 2012. Villa were linked with ex-Manchester United boss David Moyes and new Derby County manager Nigel Pearson, but Di Matteo won the race to be Villa’s boss.