Chelsea Makes Di Matteo Deal Official

Chelsea has agreed on a two-year contract with Roberto Di Matteo as their permanent manager and first-team coach, according to Hughes & Butler of the LONDON TIMES. The "main issue to resolve" appears to have been over the length of Di Matteo’s contract. He "sought greater security" than the 12-month rolling deal he signed when initially recruited as an assistant to Manager Andre Villas-Boas last summer. While the club has announced a two-year deal, it is "likely to include a break clause" after one year (LONDON TIMES, 6/13). The AFP's Julian Guyer noted that no London club had ever won the European Cup or Champions League until Chelsea beat Bayern Munich in a penalty shoot-out in May. Di Matteo said, "I'm obviously delighted to have been appointed as manager and first-team coach" (AFP, 6/13).