Antonio Conte today joins the long list of managers rumoured to take the Chelsea job at the beginning of next season.
Conte is currently in charge of the Italian national side, but according to the Daily Mail, Chelsea are targeting him to take over from Guus Hiddink for next year’s campaign.
The Italian is currently preparing to take his country to Euro 2016, but reports that he has already met with representatives from Chelsea suggest he is ready to make a return to club management.
Until this week, a number of names had been linked with the Chelsea job, but it’s believed that Conte is Roman Abramovich’s long-term first choice. Talks are set to resume between the club and the manager before the end of the current Premier League campaign.
Conte has never managed any club outside his home country, but boasts a strong record nevertheless. He has taken charge of lesser known teams such as Arezzo and Bari, but more recently bigger clubs like Atalanta and Juventus, and won three Serie A titles during his time at Juve.
Although he’s never left Italy, it was reported that he was in contention for the Manchester United before Louis van Gaal took charge, which led to Conte signing a two-year contract with the Italian national side shortly after. That deal expires after Euro 2016, which would put him in the perfect place to sign with Chelsea, especially if Italy have a strong tournament.
