Antonio Conte becomes fourth Italian manager to win Premier League… but who was the best boss?
Azzurri have produced more top gaffers than anyone else since rebranding — Scotland only other country with more than one
ANTONIO CONTE has become the fourth Italian manager to win the Premier League.
And it means Italy now sit way in front of another nation.
With Scotland the only other country to produce more than one, in Sir Alex Ferguson and Kenny Dalglish.
Chelsea started the mould of getting an Italian, when they made their then striker player-manager in 1998.
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There have been 11 in total — with five bagging at least one trophy.
Here, we take a look back every Italian manager.
Gianluca Vialli, Chelsea: 1998-2000
The first.
In just two-and-a-half-years, he led the Blues to League Cup, FA Cup (twice), Cup Winners' Cup and Uefa Super Cup glory.
Sacked after a difficult start to the 2000-01 season and replaced by Claudio Ranieri.
Attilio Lombardo, Crystal Palace: 1998
A Champions League winner with Juventus in 1996, and a class act.
Took over midway through the 1997-98 season with Eagles already bottom — and with little hope of survival.
Left at the end of the season with Palace relegated to Division One.
Claudio Ranieri, Chelsea: 2000-04, Leicester: 2015-17
His time at Stamford Bridge yielded no major trophies— but his biggest mistake was just not being Jose Mourinho.
Led Chelsea to their first Champions League semi-final in his final season, eliminating Arsenal’s Invincibles along the way.
Was sacked despite a then record-high second place finish.
Yet, it was completely different at Leicester.
Ranieri took over a side tipped for relegation, but miraculously led them to a first-ever top-flight title.
The fairytale soon turned into a nightmare as he was again sacked with champions battling the drop, despite having reached the Champions League last-16.
Gianfranco Zola, West Ham: 2008-2010
Surprise choice as replacement for Alan Curbishley.
He started off well — leading the Hammers to ninth.
However, West Ham survived by the skin of their teeth the following season and Zola was sacked.
And replaced by the disastrous Avram Grant — who oversaw their relegation.
Carlo Ancelotti, Chelsea: 2009-2011
Incredible debut season at Stamford Bridge, where he won a double of Premier League and FA Cup.
But failure in Europe and a trophyless subsequent season spelt the end for Ancelotti.
He was replaced by Andre Villas-Boas — who was then sacked just nine months later.
Roberto Mancini, Manchester City: 2009-2013
Won City’s first major trophy in 35 years when he won the FA Cup in his second full season.
Then delivered the Premier League title with City’s dramatic last-gasp victory the following season.
A second placed finished and surprise FA Cup final defeat to Wigan saw him sacked just a year later.
Roberto Di Matteo, West Brom, 2010-11, Chelsea: 2012
Led a yo-yo West Brom team up to the Premier League — and they have been there ever since.
However, a relegation scrap saw him sacked in February.
Replaced Villas-Boas as Chelsea boss in March 2012 and created history.
He won the FA Cup and delivered the Holy Grail of Champions League that Roman Abramovich had craved since buying Chelsea nine years earlier.
Out of a job by November, however.
Paolo Di Canio, Sunderland: 2013
No trophies — but keeping the Black Cats in the Premier League was no mean feat.
Famous for his knee-slide celebration after the third goal went in as Sunderland beat Newcastle 3-0 in the Tyne-Wear derby.
A disastrous start to the 2013-14 season saw him sacked and replaced by Gus Poyet.
Francesco Guidolin, 2016
Was a shock replacement for Garry Monk after the former captain’s sacking.
Ashley Williams revealed he had to Google Guidolin’s name to find out who he was.
But he steered the club to safety, before being replaced by Bob Bradley during the early part of the 2016-17 campaign.
Antonio Conte, 2016-present
Took over a Chelsea side in disarray and had some initial struggles.
However, a tactical switch saw them go on an amazing 13-game winning run.
The Blues won the title with two games to spare and could still add the FA Cup.
Walter Mazzarri, 2016-present
The latest manager through the Watford revolving door.
Mazzarri was a somewhat surprising appointment, but he has impressed — masterminding victories over Manchester United and Arsenal and securing the club’s Premier League status.
It is unlikely to save him from the sack, however.