London: Chelsea on Saturday announced the signing of former Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri as their new manager.
Sarri will replace Antonio Conte, with whom the London club parted ways with on Friday.
Sarri signed a three-year contract with the club and has now become the sixth Italian to take charge of the Blues, after the likes of Gianluca Vialli, Claudio Ranieri, Carlo Ancelotti, Roberto Di Matteo and his predecessor, Antonio Conte.
“I am very happy to be coming to Chelsea and the Premier League. It is an exciting new period in my career. I look forward to starting work and meeting the players on Monday ahead of travelling to Australia, where I will be able to get to know the squad and begin our match action. I hope we can provide some entertaining football for our fans, and that we will be competing for trophies at the end of the season, which is what this club deserves,” Sarri told Chelsea’s official website.
Chelsea’s Director, Marina Granovskaia welcomed Sarri to the club and his football philosophy to the club.
“Maurizio’s Napoli side played some of the most exciting football in Europe, impressing with their attacking approach and dynamism, and his coaching methods significantly improved the players at his disposal. He has plenty of experience in Serie A and the Champions League and we know he is relishing the chance to work in the Premier League,” she said.
During his three-year spell with Napoli, the Serie A side recorded two second-placed finishes along with one third-place finish.
Also, Napoli thrilled audiences across Italy and Europe with their fluid attacking football, with the two 4-1 results against Lazio and the 1-0 victory against Juve highlighting Sarri’s tactical nous.
Sarri was also named the Serie A Coach of the Year award in 2017.
On a related note, Conte’s departure from Chelsea comes after a turbulent season at the helm of Stamford Bridge. Reports of dressing room bust-ups and discord with Roman Abromovic after a disappointing Premier League season saw his side finish fifth, bolstered rumours of his departure. (ANI)