Chelsea have confirmed Carlo Ancelotti as their new manager. The Italian has signed a three-year contract to succeed Guus Hiddink, whose short stint in charge ended after Saturday’s FA Cup final victory over Everton.
Ancelotti left AC Milan on Sunday after eight years at the San Siro, during which time he won two Champions League titles, the Serie A title, the Italian Cup and the Club World Cup.
The 49-year-old was also a successful player with both Roma and Milan, winning a total of two European Cups and three league titles.
A Chelsea statement read:
“Carlo was the outstanding candidate for the job. He has proved over a long period his ability to build teams that challenged for, and have been successful in, major domestic and European competitions. He also had a highly successful playing career in those competitions and therefore brings unparalleled all round experience to the job. We are sure everybody at Chelsea will give him a warm welcome and we are all looking forward to working with him.”
Ancelotti takes charge on July 1 and will become Chelsea’s fifth manager in less than two years following Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant, Luiz Felipe Scolari and Hiddink.
He told Chelsea TV:
“Milan for me was a great experience. For five years I played with a great team – we had a lot of success – and eight years to train a great team. Now I think it is time to change and Chelsea for me was a great opportunity, a great team. Now I think it is the right moment for a new challenge and I want to put all my energy for Chelsea.”
Ancelotti will be charged with replicating his past European successes at Chelsea while also re-establishing the club on top of the Premier League. The Champions League title is the only trophy Chelsea have not won since Roman Abramovich took over at Stamford Bridge.
“There will be the same pressure because Chelsea are a great team in Europe,” Ancelotti added. “They want to win all the competitions. For me the Champions League is a beautiful sensation. When I played I won it two times, it was a fantastic moment and the same thing when I was a coach in Milan. The Champions League for me is the best competition in the world.”
