Sports
Chelsea confirm Maurizio Sarri as their new manager as Italian becomes Antonio Conte’s successor
MAURIZIO SARRI has been unveiled as the new Chelsea manager this morning.
The former Napoli boss, 59, has signed a three-year contract worth around £17.7million to take over after Antonio Conte was sacked on Friday.
Sarri said: “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.”
Director Marina Granovskaia added: “We are delighted to welcome Maurizio and are looking forward to him bringing his football philosophy to Chelsea.
“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.”
Sarri led Napoli to two second-place finishes during his three years in charge.
He joined the Serie A club in 2015 after leading Empoli to the top flight and the Blues job is his first overseas.
Following the announcement this morning, Napoli posted a classy goodbye message to their former leader on Twitter.
It read: “The club would like to thank Maurizio Sarri for the work he has done over the past three years.
Through the job he did, the players at this club have grown and improved, showing themselves to be top players and developing a style of play appreciated the world over.
“We hope Maurizio finds, wherever he goes, that same warmth, respect and affection he enjoyed from everyone at the club and in this city. Best of luck, Maurizio! #ForzaNapoliSempre.”
That was in stark contrast to the miserly 61-word statement released by Chelsea confirming Conte’s sacking yesterday.
The chain-smoker‘s first job will be to try to stop midfielder N’Golo Kante joining Barcelona after Sunday’s World Cup final.
Frenchman Kante is a major target for the Spanish champions and is believed to be interested in a move.
Sarri also has just a month to sort out issues with disillusioned players such as Eden Hazard, Willian and keeper Thibaut Courtois, who grew alienated from Conte during his turbulent time in charge.
There is less than a month to go until Chelsea kick off the new Premier League season away at Huddersfield on August 11.
And he has a date at Wembley to look forward to a week prior to that when his new side take on Prem champions Manchester City in the Community Shield.
Sarri must work out what to do with returning loanees Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Michy Batshuayi, Kurt Zouma and emerging rookies Ethan Ampadu, Charly Musonda, Tammy Abraham and Dujon Sterling.
However, excitement will be growing amongst the Stamford Bridge faithful following his arrival.
And even Gary Lineker appears to be looking forward to seeing how Chelsea play under the Italian.
The England icon and Match of the Day presenter wrote on Twitter: “Maurizio Sarri is the new @ChelseaFC coach.
“If he creates a team as entertaining to watch as Napoli were under his stewardship then Chelsea’s fans are in for a treat.”
Sarri is also expected to have a familiar face helping him to settle in West London.
Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola is expected to be announced this week as part of the new manager’s backroom team.
Roman’s £90m merry-go-round
ANTONIO CONTE
Dates in charge: July 3, 2016 to July 12, 2018
Cost to sack: £9m
Conte signed a three-year contract in 2016 and led Chelsea to the Premier League title in his first season. But missing out on Champions League qualification last term spelt the end for the Italian, set to be replaced by Maurizio Sarri.
JOSE MOURINHO
Dates in charge: June 3, 2013 to December 17, 2015
Cost to sack: £9.5m
Chelsea fans couldn’t wait to have their Special One back – on a four-year deal, no less – where he led the club to an impressive Premier League title win in his second season back. However, a dreadful start to 2015-16 saw him promptly sacked with the club in genuine relegation trouble.
ROBERTO DI MATTEO
Dates in charge: March 4, 2012 to November 21, 2012
Cost to sack: £10.7m
Club legend as a player, stop-gap boss as manager, Di Matteo did incredibly lead Chelsea to their Champions League trophy – after taking over well into the competition, in March. He was signed on a permanent basis in the summer, but was gone by November amidst a dreadful run of form.
ANDRE VILLAS BOAS
Dates in charge: June 22, 2011 to March 4, 2012
Cost to sack: £12m
Chelsea paid a world record £13m to land AVB – but the appointment was little more than a nightmare. As the Blues slipped out of the top four in February and March, the Portuguese boss was given the boot.
CARLO ANCELOTTI
Dates in charge: June 1, 2009 to May 22, 2011
Cost to sack: £6m
Chelsea’s fourth permanent manager in less than two years, Ancelotti led Chelsea to the Prem title – scoring a then-record 103 that year – and the FA Cup in his first season. However, an awful winter of 2010/11 ultimately spelt the end for the Italian, who – despite a late rally – was sacked immediately after the final game of the season.
LUIZ FELIPE SCOLARI
Dates in charge: July 1, 2008 to February 9, 2009
Cost to sack: £12.6m
Scolari left Portugal for Chelsea immediately after Euro 2008 and started well. But “Big Phil” was sacked in February as Chelsea endured a rocky winter culminating in a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool and goalless draw with Hull.
AVRAM GRANT
Dates in charge: September 20, 2007 to May 24, 2008
Cost to sack: £5.5m
A personal friend of Roman Abramovich, Grant was given the unenviable task of replacing Mourinho, despite not holding the required coaching badges. Chelsea lost both the League Cup and Champions League finals in his sole season – finishing second in the Premier League.
JOSE MOURINHO
Dates in charge: June 2, 2004 to September 17, 2007
Cost to sack: £18m
“Please don’t call me arrogant, but I’m European champion and I think I’m a special one”, claimed Mourinho on his arrival in London. Mourinho won the Premier League in his first two seasons and despite leading Chelsea to 64 consecutive home games without defeat, the Special One left Chelsea over reported arguments with Abramovich.
CLAUDIO RANIERI
Dates in charge: September 17, 2000 to May 31, 2004
Cost to sack: £6m
“The Tinkerman” was the first manager under Abramovich and was allowed major investment in the transfer windows. However, despite that, Chelsea failed to win a single trophy under Ranieri and was replaced by Mourinho – arguably just as the Blues were starting to find their rhythm.
Real Madrid produced a spectacular comeback against Bayern Munich to reach the Champions League final with Joselu striking twice late on, earning them a 2-1 win on Wednesday to progress 4-3 on aggregate.
Alphonso Davies smashed the visiting German giants ahead in the second half but record 14-time winners Madrid produced a sensational comeback with Joselu netting in the 88th and 91st minutes.
Bayern Munich’s Canadian midfielder #19 Alphonso Davies scores his team’s first goal in spite of Real Madrid’s Ukrainian goalkeeper #13 Andriy Lunin during the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
Spanish champions Real Madrid face another German side, Borussia Dortmund, in the Wembley final on June 1, after they stunned the team they call their “black beast”.
Squad player Joselu, on as a late substitute, wrote his name in Madrid’s history books with his last-gasp brace.
Bayern Munich’s English forward #09 Harry Kane reacts to their defeat after the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
“There have been a lot of times we have looked dead and buried, but we have that mentality of never say die,” said Real midfielder Jude Bellingham.
“Joselu deserves it all, he has been an amazing squad member this season.”
Madrid had enjoyed the better of the match but it seemed Davies’ superb strike had set up a repeat of the 2013 all-German final in London.
Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel made three changes from the first leg, benching veteran Thomas Mueller and Leon Goretzka.
Dani Carvajal started for Madrid after missing the first leg suspended and was heavily involved as the hosts dominated the opening stages.
Real Madrid players celebrate their second goal scored by Real Madrid’s Spanish forward #14 Joselu during the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
Rodrygo Goes was inches away from converting Carvajal’s low cross and the Spain defender then cleverly set up Vinicius Junior with a pass nutmegging a defender, and Manuel Neuer tipped the Brazilian’s shot against the post.
The rebound fell to Rodrygo but his effort was weak and with a desperate arm Neuer was able to claw it out to complete a fine double save.
Bayern’s Serge Gnabry limped off injured with Davies replacing him before Harry Kane’s first flash of danger.
Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin was alert to push the England captain’s vicious long-range volley around the post.
Neuer palmed away a Vinicius free-kick as the teams ended a high-intensity, relentlessly frantic first half level.
The second period was just as fraught, with Davies’ cross deflecting onto the roof of Lunin’s goal.
Vinicius was unplayable down Madrid’s left and Rodrygo prodded his low cross agonisingly wide of the far post.
The 38-year-old Neuer made superb saves to deny both Brazilian forwards again before the hour mark as Madrid controlled the game and ratcheted up the pressure.
However just as in Munich, when Los Blancos were at their strongest, Bayern pounced.
Kane fed Davies and the Canada international cut inside from the left and smashed a shot beyond Lunin into the far top corner after 68 minutes.
Madrid thought they had levelled moments later through Nacho but after a VAR review the strike was ruled out as the defender had grabbed Joshua Kimmich’s face before shooting.
Tuchel took off Kane in the final stages to try and hold on to victory but it slipped through his fingers as Madrid produced more indelible European memories.
Neuer, who had been sublime to this point, fumbled what appeared a simple Vinicius strike and Joselu gratefully bundled home from close range.
With Bayern reeling Madrid struck again, decisively. It was Joselu once more, the striker on loan from second division side Espanyol, turning home after Antonio Rudiger cut the ball back to him.
The goal was ruled offside but officials overturned the decision after review, and after nearly 15 minutes of stoppage time, Madrid earned the chance to go for their 15th Champions League trophy.
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