Chelsea Sack Antonio Conte as Manager

We wish Antonio every success in his future career: Chelsea Football Club’s Statement.

File photo of Antonio Conte.

(Photo: Reuters)

Chelsea have sacked Italian Antonio Conte as manager, media in Britain and Italy reported on Thursday. In a statement relasead on Friday, Chelsea stated:

During Antonio’s time at the club, we won our sixth league title and eighth FA Cup. In the title winning season, the club set a then record 30 wins in a 38-game Premier League season, as well as a club record 13 consecutive league victories. We wish Antonio every success in his future career.

Chelsea’s Statement

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis had said on Wednesday that the Premier League side were close to securing a deal for former Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri to replace Conte.

The former Italy manager had a year remaining on his current contract and had already taken charge of pre-season preparations at the club's Cobham training ground.

However, Conte's future with the Roman Abramovich-owned club has looked uncertain for months with the West Londoners failing to qualify for the coming season's Champions League after finishing fifth in 2017-18.

Sarri was replaced by former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti in May with the Naples club seeking to end Juventus' dominance in the league.

The 59-year-old led Napoli to two second-place and one third-place finish in three seasons in charge.