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Antonio Conte takes over as Italy coach and vows to restore their greatness Antonio Conte takes over as Italy coach and vows to restore their greatness
(about 1 hour later)
The former Juventus head coach Antonio Conte has vowed to turn Italy back into one of the top national sides. Antonio Conte, the former Juventus head coach, has vowed to turn Italy back into one of the top national sides. He succeeds Cesare Prandelli, who resigned immediately after their early elimination from the World Cup in Brazil. Prandelli, who has since joined Galatasaray, gave the new coach his support in a generous message.
He succeeds Cesare Prandelli, who resigned immediately after Italy’s early elimination from the World Cup in Brazil. Prandelli, who has since joined Galatasaray, gave the new coach his support in a generous message. “I send my best wishes to Conte and I hope he gets the best results for the most important team in Italy, the Nazionale,” Prandelli told Tuttosport. “Antonio Conte begins his challenge tomorrow. As his predecessor, I wish him and his staff luck in their work and hope they get the best results on the pitch.”
“I send my best wishes to Conte and I hope he gets the best results for the most important team in Italy, the Nazionale,” Prandelli told Tuttosport. The 45-year-old Conte has agreed a two-year contract, signing it on Tuesday. “The players are the same that come from a disappointing experience but we have great players,” he said. I am very convinced we can rise up again because Italy has to be among the top teams in the world.”
“Antonio Conte begins his challenge tomorrow. As his predecessor, I wish him and his staff luck in their work, and hope they get the best results on the pitch.” Conte, who left Juventus by mutual consent last month, shortly after steering the club to a third successive Serie A title, added: “I didn’t expect to be in this position 35 days after leaving. In my head I was going to travel around Europe, improve my languages. I was expecting to wait for a top club in Europe, maybe during the season or at the end.
The 45-year-old has agreed a two-year contract, signing it on Tuesday at the start of his first press conference. “I like tough challenges. I’m bringing my mentality here. I live for winning. The difference between victory and defeat is for me the same as between life and death.”
“The players are the same that come from a disappointing experience but we have great players. I am very convinced we can rise up again because Italy has to be among the top teams in the world,” Conte, 45, said. Conte will reportedly earn €8.2m (£6.5m) for his two years in charge, some of it to be funded by the team sponsor Puma. As part of the deal, the Italian football federation owns 100% of his image rights.
Conte, who left Juventus by mutual consent last month, shortly after steering the club to a third successive Serie A title, added: “I didn’t expect to be in this position 35 days after leaving. In my head I was going to travel around Europe, improve my languages. I was expecting to wait for a top club in Europe, maybe during the season or at the end.” Conte’s first match in charge will be a friendly against Holland, World Cup semi-finalists, in Bari on 4 September. Italy begin their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign in Norway five days later and play Croatia, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan and Malta.
He added: “I like tough challenges. I’m bringing my mentality here. I live for winning. The difference between victory and defeat is for me the same as between life and death.”
Conte will reportedly earn €8.2m (£6.5m) for his two years in charge, some of it to be funded by the team sponsor Puma. As part of the deal, the Italian football federation owns 100% of Conte’s image rights.
Conte’s first match in charge will be a friendly against Holland in Bari on 4 Sepember. Italy begin their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign in Norway five days later and also play Croatia, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan and Malta.
A former Italy international, Conte made more than 500 appearances for Juventus and won five league titles as a player with the club. His successful connection with Juve continued as coach, as he won Serie A at the first attempt and his side went unbeaten throughout the league season.A former Italy international, Conte made more than 500 appearances for Juventus and won five league titles as a player with the club. His successful connection with Juve continued as coach, as he won Serie A at the first attempt and his side went unbeaten throughout the league season.
A second title followed, but he became embroiled in a corruption row after he was charged with failing to report attempted match-fixing during his time with Siena. Conte pleaded his innocence but was subsequently banned for 10 months – a sentence reduced to a four-month touchline suspension in August 2013. A second title followed but he became embroiled in a corruption row after he was charged with failing to report attempted match-fixing during his time with Siena. Conte pleaded his innocence but was subsequently banned for 10 months – a sentence reduced to a four-month touchline suspension in August 2013.
He returned to the dugout midway through last season and led Juve to another title, the 32nd in their history. He was replaced at Juve by the former Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri.He returned to the dugout midway through last season and led Juve to another title, the 32nd in their history. He was replaced at Juve by the former Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri.