Roberto di Matteo appointed Aston Villa manager - Steve Clarke as assistant
Last updated on .From the section Football
Former Chelsea manager Roberto di Matteo has been appointed the new manager of Aston Villa.
The Italian succeeds Remi Garde, who was sacked in March before the club's relegation from the Premier League.
Di Matteo, who won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012, will be assisted by former Blues team-mate Steve Clarke.
Villa were also linked with ex-Manchester United boss David Moyes and new Derby County manager Nigel Pearson, but Di Matteo was always first choice.
Dr Tony Xia, the Chinese businessman whose takeover of Villa is awaiting Football League and Premier League approval, is convinced Di Matteo will raise the West Midlands club's profile in the Championship.
The former West Brom and Schalke boss and Clarke, 52, have been out of management since last year.
The pair have never worked together in management but were Chelsea team-mates for two years.
Clarke will take hands-on responsibility for Villa's group of underachieving players.
The Scot has excellent contacts and recent experience in the Championship, having managed Reading until he was sacked last December.
Thanks to his time at Newcastle United and Liverpool, he also has an excellent reputation as a first-team coach and worked as an assistant to Jose Mourinho at Chelsea for three years.
As a head coach, Clarke, a former Scotland international, guided West Brom to their highest Premier League position of eighth in 2013.
Di Matteo has not managed at Championship level since 2009-10, when he guided West Brom to an immediate return to the top flight.
Since 2011, the former Italy midfielder, who played 32 times for his country, has been sacked by the Baggies and Chelsea. He left Bundesliga side Schalke in May 2015 after failing to qualify for the Champions League.
The first task for Di Matteo and Clarke will be to eliminate underperforming players on long contracts, while bringing in players suited to the physical challenges of the Championship.
New owner Xia has already promised extensive funds for player recruitment.
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Bit harsh isn't it?
Selling them on would be kinder.
Where was the wall to wall coverage from last Saturday?
Hopefully we'll get the chance to pick our Villa team for next season.
''win nothing''
Do you not recall him leading Chelsea to the Champions League final and winning it??
Phil: 'Ok cool. What's an Aston Villa?'
"So BHS are about to close with the loss of 11,000 jobs, and the BBC have a HYS on some second rate non premiership club appointment a manager."
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There has been a HYS about BHS since 9.30am. It might not suit your tiresome anti-BBC nonsense but it's a fact. You'll find it at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36432226
You're welcome.
Decent guy & a great boss......
"I can hardly contain the excitement over this news.... Why does the BBC insist on reporting football related nonsense..??"
Because it's on the Sports page. If you would like any information on what can be found on other pages, the weather page for example, do let us know.
(he's as genuine a politician as he is a football fan!)
The management team is now in place; you've now got to hope the new owners back them.
Am fairly optimistic for Villa. Pleased as like the club. Good luck