'Interim' is finally removed from job title of ex-Blues
midfielder who stepped in after AVB sacking and won the FA Cup and
European Cup
Chelsea have appointed Roberto Di Matteo as their
full-time coach on a two-year contract.
The Blues have moved to confirm the Italian as their permanent
boss just three weeks after he led them to their first Champions
League title while in interim charge.
Di Matteo replaced Andre Villas-Boas for the final 11 weeks of
the season and inspired a stunning rejuvenation of a side that had
been deemed too old, as they won the FA Cup before their famous
penalty shoot-out win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League
final.
Di Matteo, who turned 42 last month, was ecstatic to take on the
role permanently.
"I'm obviously delighted to have been appointed as manager and
first-team coach," Di Matteo said. "We all achieved incredible
success last season that made history for this great club.
"Our aim is to continue building on that and I'm already
planning and looking forward to the squad's return for
pre-season."
Despite Di Matteo's success there was speculation Chelsea would
look elsewhere for a full-time boss, with Pep Guardiola apparently
atop their wish-list following his departure from Barcelona.
Owner Roman Abramovich was said to be keen to bring in
Guardiola, despite the Spaniard showing little interest in revoking
his decision to take a year's sabbatical from the game.
Rumours Guardiola could be swayed grew stronger as the weeks
passed since Chelsea's Munich triumph, but in confirming Di
Matteo's appointment today chief executive Ron Gourlay labelled the
former Blues midfielder the "right man to lead Chelsea onto further
success".
Give me a break: Chelsea wanted Guardiola but he will go on
sabbatical instead
Gourlay also revealed Di Matteo had been involved in the
decision to make recent signings with the club having already made
the big-money capture of Eden Hazard following the end of last
season.
"Roberto's quality was clear for all to see when he galvanised
the squad last season and helped the club make history, and the
owner and board are very pleased he will be continuing his good
work," he said.
"We all believed he was a young coach with much to offer when we
first asked him to take charge of team affairs in March and the
manner in which he worked with us, the players and all the staff,
and the success that followed, made him the clear choice when it
came to selecting the person to take us forward in the seasons to
come.
"We will be working closely with Roberto in the weeks ahead,
some exciting signings have already been made and Roberto has had
input into those.
"Although he has set the bar very high in the short time he has
been in charge, we know that Roberto is the right man to lead
Chelsea onto further success.
"We are already looking forward to the 2012-13 season which
kicks off when Roberto, his staff and players return for
pre-season."
