Chelsea confirm appointment of Antonio Conte as Jose Mourinho's permanent successor

Chelsea have confirmed Antonio Conte has signed a three-year contract to become their next manager.

The Italy head coach will take charge of the Premier League club after this summer's European Championship.

The 46-year-old said: "I am very excited about the prospect of working at Chelsea Football Club. I am proud to be the coach of the national team of my country and only a role as attractive as manager of Chelsea could follow that.

"'I am looking forward to meeting everyone at the club and the day-to-day challenge of competing in the Premier League.

"Chelsea and English football are watched wherever you go, the fans are passionate and my ambition is to have more success to follow the victories I enjoyed in Italy.

"'I am happy we have made the announcement now so everything is clear and we can end the speculation. I will continue to focus on my job with the Italian national team and will reserve speaking about Chelsea again until after the Euros."

Conte will be the permanent successor to Jose Mourinho, who was axed by Chelsea in December after a disastrous start to the season. 

Guus Hiddink has been in temporary charge since Mourinho's departure but has continually made it clear he will depart the post in the summer.

Conte will be the fifth Italian to manage Chelsea, following in the footsteps of Gianluca Vialli, Claudio Ranieri, Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto Di Matteo.

He has been in charge of Italy since August 2014 having previously enjoyed great success atJuventus, where he won three successive Serie A titles.

Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia said: "We are very pleased to have recruited one of the most highly regarded managers in world football and we are equally pleased to do so before the end of the current season. This aids our future planning.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Guus Hiddink, who has done a great job since he joined us in December