Official: Tottenham confirm Conte as their next manager

The former Juventus, Chelsea and Inter Milan boss has become the fourth permanent Tottenham Hotspur manager in two years.

Tottenham have confirmed Antonio Conte as Nuno Espirito Santo’s replacement as head coach on a contract until June 2023. The deal includes an option to extend it for another season.

The club’s chairman, Daniel Levy, and managing director, Fabio Paratici, moved quickly to secure a new manager after sacking Nuno on Monday just four months into the Portuguese’s reign.

Face-to-face talks with Conte, spearheaded by Paratici, began on Monday in London and quickly progressed. By the end of the day, the parties had reached a verbal agreement. Spurs confirmed it on Tuesday with a short video announcement on Twitter.

Buongiorno Antonio… pic.twitter.com/26wgcdcYED

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 2, 2021

Conte ‘delighted’ to be back in England

In a statement on the club’s website, Conte said: “I am extremely happy to return to coaching and to do so at a Premier League club that has the ambition to be a protagonist again.

“Tottenham Hotspur has state-of-the-art facilities and one of the best stadiums in the world. I can’t wait to start working to convey to the team and the fans the passion, mentality and determination that have always distinguished me, as a player and as a coach.

“Last summer our union did not happen because the end of my relationship with Inter was still too recent and emotionally too involved with the end of the season, so I felt that it wasn’t yet the right time to return to coaching.

“But the contagious enthusiasm and determination of Daniel Levy in wanting to entrust me with this task had already hit the mark. Now that the opportunity has returned, I have chosen to take it with great conviction.”

✍️ We are delighted to announce the appointment of Antonio Conte as our Head Coach on a contract until the summer of 2023, with an option to extend.

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 2, 2021

Paratici key behind the coup

Despite talks with Conte breaking down over the summer, Tottenham got their man in the end.

Paratici has been credited for the coup. The ex-Juventus sporting director, who worked with Conte in Turin, arrived in London prior to the breakdown in talks between the coach and club. However, he still harbored hope of doing a deal and made it a priority the moment Nuno left.

According to The Guardian, Paratici contacted the former Chelsea and Inter coach on Saturday night after Spurs lost 3-0 at home to Manchester United in the Premier League. This occurred on the same day he held crunch talks with Levy and decided a new manager was necessary.

The 49-year-old changed Conte’s mind by assuring him of a say in the club’s transfer activities and plans to build the team. As a result, Spurs had prepared the paperwork by Monday. The club board sealed a verbal agreement with the Italian and his representatives in London later that night.

Conte, who won the Premier League and FA Cup titles with Chelsea between 2016 and 2018, could debut on Thursday. The Lilywhites will face Vitesse in a Europa Conference League match.