LONDON (AP) – Tottenham signed Antonio Conte as their third manager in seven months on Tuesday, marking the Italian’s return to the Premier League after defeating Chelsea.
Conte signed a contract that ties him until the end of the 2022-23 season, with an option to extend it.
He was appointed the day after the dismissal of Nuno Espírito Santo, precipitous after losing half of the 10 games he led in the first division of English football.
Conte had been out of work since leaving Inter Milan in May, shortly after being crowned Italian Serie A champion.
In his previous spell in England, Conte won a Premier title and also the FA Cup. He left the London club at the end of the 2018 season.
“I am extremely happy to coach again and to do so at a Premier League club that has ambitions to be a star again,” Conte said.
“Tottenham Hotspur has world-class facilities and one of the best stadiums in the world,” he added.
Conte had previously been probed by Tottenham to be José Mourinho’s replacement in June, but they could not reach an agreement.
However, sporting director Fabio Paratici later joined Tottenham and maintains a good relationship with his Italian compatriot after working together at Juventus.
Conte would make his debut in the Europa Conference League game against Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem on Thursday. Its premiere in the Premier will be on Sunday with a visit to Everton.
“We are delighted to welcome Antonio to the club,” said Paratici. “His career speaks for itself, with vast experience and trophies in both Italy and England.”
The season started promisingly with Nuno. Spurs won their first three games and the Portuguese received the award for the best coach in the Premier in August.
But Tottenham proceeded to lose five of their next seven games. The defeats against West Ham and Manchester United in their last two Premier League games showed a team without an offensive vocation, almost without finishing on goal.
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