After just over two years as manager of Chelsea FC, Antonio Conte has been officially fired from the English club and is to be replaced by former Napoli FC coach Maurizio Sarri. Conte now joins Carlo Ancelotti (who'll actually replace Sarri at Napoli), Claudio Ranieri and Roberto Di Matteo as the fourth Italian manager at Chelsea to be, how do you say, relieved of his duties.
According to The Sun, Conte was informed of his sacking by Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck during a lunchtime meeting on July 12. Pretty sure it was a salty lunch too.
Not sure if Gary Lineker is being a cheeky monkey or genuinely surprised here.
Antonio Conte has been fired by Chelsea. Never saw that coming.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) July 12, 2018
Roman Abramovich, Russian aristocrat and Chelsea owner, does have a thing for Italian coaches and he definitely has a thing for firing them for the slightest mistake. After all, Abramovich’s beef with Conte started last season after a few appalling loses. It was rumored earlier this year that another Juventus boss, Massimiliano Allegri, would take charge after Conte, but now we know that it’s actually Sarri.
Famed Chelsea historian and British author Mark Worral had a more sentimental approach to Conte’s outing:
“I will always love this colour, the fans and this club.” Antonio Conte
Arrivederci Antonio, grazie di tutto. pic.twitter.com/u6XfMZgxet— Mark Worrall (@gate17marco) July 12, 2018
Conte did lead Chelsea to an EPL title during his first season, but he now exits a year before his contract’s end, which means Abramovich will owe Conte compensation money. The compensation is estimated to be around $10.5 million, which would keep Conte more than comfortable as he searches for another job, perhaps back in Italy and Serie A.
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis is said to be finalizing Sarri’s move immediately.
“Sarri is close to being new Chelsea manager,” he said, according to Sky Sports. “My lawyers are in talks with his lawyers to finalize everything.”
The 48-year-old Conte now fades into the shadows of fired Italian Chelsea managers in preparation for Abramovich’s latest victim, the 59-year-old Sarri. Sarri, who’s a heavy chain smoker, isn’t clear of controversy himself. After shouting out homophobic epithets at Inter Milan’s Roberto Mancini in a Coppa Italia match in 2016, Sarri was fined and banned for two Serie A matches.
Chelsea correspondent Oliver Harbord also had a heartwarming yet realistic goodbye for Conte:
Some Chelsea fans may have become frustrated by his tactics last season, but there were some wonderful moments under Antonio Conte and should always be grateful for what he did. pic.twitter.com/DVvSsaajjn
— Oliver Harbord (@ojharbord) July 12, 2018
A hashtag (#ConteOut) is now circulating across Twitter as both fans and critics react to Conte’s sacking.
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