Antonio Conte: Success for Italy at Euro 2016 could hit Chelsea pre-season preparations
The Blues have confirmed the Italian will join the club from next season on a three-year deal
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Your support makes all the difference.Chelsea today announced what everyone knew was going to happen - Antonio Conte will be their next permanent manager. The Italian has signed a three-year deal with the west London club beginning this summer.
But just how soon he gets to work at Stamford Bridge will be dictated by how Italy perform at Euro 2016 - with the difference between an early exit and a run to the final meaning 19 extra days of pre-season preparation at Chelsea for the manager.
Confirming the news, Chelsea said on their website: "He will begin work in London following his country’s participation in this summer’s Euro 2016 tournament."
It's a situation that will mean Chelsea will be hoping Italy make an early exit from the tournament in France so that their new coach can get to work.
A swift elimination is a real possibility for the Italian's who are in Group E at Euro 2016 - billed as the 'Group of Death'. They face Belgium, Republic of Ireland and Sweden for a place in the knock-out stage. Should they fail to progress, Italy's last game would be 22 June.
If Italy move into the knock-out phase, the Round of 16 fixtures take place from 25-27 June. The quarter-finals are between 30 June and 3 July, the semi-finals on 6 and 7 July and the final on 10 July.
A similar situation arose when Manchester United appointed Louis van Gaal while the Dutchman was still coach of the Netherlands. Holland's run to the semi-finals of the 2014 World Cup meant Van Gaal's pre-season at Old Trafford was much shorter that it could have been.
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