Chelsea have confirmed that former player Roberto Di Matteo is returning to the club as assistant manager to new boss André Villas-Boas. The Portuguese manager was officially unveiled as the Blues' new manager this morning, and Di Matteo is among his backroom staff. The Italian's appointment had been rumoured yesterday but still comes as a bit of a surprise. The 41-year-old, who spent six years at Stamford Bridge as a player, is hardly an experienced number two for 33-year-old Villas-Boas to turn to for advice. And Di Matteo has Premier League management experience, which makes his decision to accept the assistant's role slightly unexpected. The former Blues midfielder has been out of work since being sacked by West Bromwich Albion manager in February. He had guided the Baggies from the Championship at the first time of asking in the previous season. Villas-Boas has also appointed compatriots José Mario Rocha and Daniel Sousa to his staff. They worked at Porto as his physical fitness coach and chief opposition scout respectively. He missed out on former assistant Vitor Pereira when he was appointed as the new manager of Porto.
Interesting... I like it He may have the eye for underrated talent that we've been missing, having brought in the likes of Odemwingie, Mulumbu etc...
LFC fan in peace. I like what AVB has done here, this along with the promise of exciting football makes Chelsea the team to watch this year. We all know AVB is inexperianced at the top level and that he may be naive to think that he can just waltz in and change a clubs mentality so quickly but if he can pull it off then I can honestly see you lot winning your first champions league if not this season then the one after
Bozz I like that fact that he's going for some experience, but also someone with strong affinity with the club and the fans. Could be interesting, and I expect that AVB will also be popular with the neutrals as well...not an out and out job winner in terms of selection, but good for the club in general. Next year will be interesting, esp with City and Liverpool looking like they'll be pushing hard.
I hope (and I really do hope because as much as I want Liverpool to win tropies and league tables I also like proper exciting competition) that Roman gives AVB real time to stamp his image on Chelsea. IMO You guys haven't had a club identity of sorts since the days of Jose Mourinho and whle you have won silverware none of the managers have had the time or the guts to make the club in their image. With AVB I think you really have an oppertunity to create something special, you guys could potentially have the same relationship with AVB as Man Utd fans have with Fergie and that sort of bond leads to long term success. If I were a chelsea fan my only worry would be AVB having his head turned by Real Madrid or Barcelona as Jose Mourinho never stays anywhere very long and is ther Man Utd manager in waiting while i'm sure I read somewhere that pep guardiola has said he doesn't like the idea of staying at one club for a longperiod of time... Mind you on saying this, if by that time he has settled in London and has started building for your future then I can see any approach being ignored
Great news. Was always a big fan of Bobby. Great guy. Sousa coming in is also really good news as AVB seemed to have really liked his work at Porto. It's all looking very promising. Now onto the playing staff...
I believe this is a great piece of work.. he is definitely better than having Emenalo! He is a fan favourite which helps... role on next season!
He was unlucky to get sacked at West Brom as they were playing some good footy. Good appointment imo.
I've got a mate that's a season ticket holder at West Brom and he was gutted when Robbie got the sack. He said that they were playing fantastic football and that he also had a great eye for a player picking up Dorrans and Odemwingie for peanuts. It was inevitable that they were going to have a bad run at some point and they sacked him as soon as that happened which was really harsh. Still great news for us as I think he'll be a great number 2. Shame that they couldn't get Franco in too.
