Read Chelsea's Statement on Conte

Chelsea announced the appointment of Antonio Conte as First Team Head Coach on Monday afternoon. Chelsea statement statement read thus;

Chelsea Director Marina Granovskaia said: ‘We are very pleased to have recruited one of the most highly regarded managers in world football and we are equally pleased to do so before the end of the current season. This aids our future planning.

‘I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Guus Hiddink, who has done a great job since he joined us in December.’

‘Antonio Conte has a record of consistent success in his career as a manager and as a player. We look forward to welcoming him to Stamford Bridge and are confident he will find all he needs to maintain that high standard of achievement,’ Chelsea Chairman Bruce Buck added.

It’s understood Conte has been learning English for the past few months in preparation for taking over from Hiddink at the end of the season.