The worst kept secret in football was finally revealed Monday as Chelsea announced the appointment of Antonio Conte as their new coach.
Having long been linked with Stamford Bridge, rumours only grew more intense after the former midfielder revealed his intention to step down from as boss of the Italian national team at the end of Euro 2016.
The 46-year-old has led the Azzurri for two years, taking on that role immediately after walking out on Juventus back in June 2014 after three glorious seasons. Winning the Serie A title in each of those campaigns, Conte’s side set a new points record for the Italian top flight (102) and marched undefeated through 2011/12.
Identifying what he will bring to Chelsea is difficult given his previous experience has come solely in his homeland, with a forgettable 14-game stint with Atalanta his only other top flight job besides his glory years with the Bianconeri.
Perhaps the obvious characteristic which would appeal is his relentless drive and ambition, with any player looking for a reassuring arm around their shoulder likely to be given short shrift.
“When Conte speaks, his words assault you,” Andrea Pirlo wrote in his recent autobiography. “They crash through the doors of your mind, often quite violently and settle deep within you. I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve found myself saying: ‘Hell, Conte said something really spot-on again today’.”
Conte connects with his squad in a manner reminiscent of his predecessor Jose Mourinho, with numerous players crediting him with transforming their careers, but he is always fully focused on the final score.
Indeed, as Juventus chased that record points tally towards the end of the 2013/14 campaign, goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon approached Conte to discuss bonus payments owed to the team.
Despite his standing within the Italian game, the club captain was – according to a book written by Italian journalist Alessandro Alciato – met with an expletive-laden rant from the Coach.
After the swearing stopped, his final words were: “Gigi, you are the captain, you are a disappointment to me as well as all these idiots.”
When his players do finally take to the field, they do so with a meticulously-prepared tactical plan. Conte’s attention to detail draws further comparisons to Mourinho. His preference for the 3-5-2 formation in well-known, but in truth that only became the default framework at Juventus due to the presence of Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini as well as the wealth of midfield talent at his disposal.
Initially he attempted to deploy the same attack-minded 4-2-4 setup that helped his Bari side win the Serie B title, evolving to a 4-3-3 to create space for Arturo Vidal and Claudio Marchisio alongside Pirlo. Lacking the wingers to make that work saw him eventually switch to a three-man defence, something Juventus have continued to use even after his departure.
Finally, Conte will expect Chelsea to match his own ambition, with disagreements over transfer policy believed to be the major factor in his Juventus exit. He famously said that “you can’t eat in a €100 restaurant with just €10 in your pocket”.
The financial gap between the Bianconeri and Europe’s truly giant clubs not only stung his pride but also frustrated his appetite for glory. He has signed a three-year contract, and the Lecce native will now expect his new employers to foot the bill when the summer transfer window opens.
Chelsea have always been big spenders and Conte will expect a war chest.
