Chelsea have finally confirmed the appointment of Antonio Conte as their next manager on a 3 year contract worth £4.7 million a year after tax, putting an end to months of speculation regarding the matter.

Conte will manage Italy at Euro 2016 but will step down after the tournament.

On being confirmed as the new Chelsea boss, Conte said:

‘I am very excited about the prospect of working at Chelsea football club. I am proud to be the coach of the national team of my country and only a role as attractive as manager of Chelsea could follow that. I am looking forward to meeting everyone at the club and the day-to-day challenge of competing in the Premier League.

‘Chelsea and English football are watched wherever you go, the fans are passionate and my ambition is to have more success to follow the victories I enjoyed in Italy.

‘I am happy we have made the announcement now so everything is clear and we can end the speculation. I will continue to focus on my job with the Italian national team and will reserve speaking about Chelsea again until after the Euros.’

Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia praised the appointment, claiming it gives Chelsea time to set a proper plan for next season.

‘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,’ Granovskaia said. ‘This aids our future planning.’