Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur have parted ways with manager Antonio Conte.
Tottenham have parted company with Antonio Conte a week after his explosive post-match press conference at Southampton, in which he called the players “selfish” and delivered a scathing attack on the club’s management.
The Italian departs Tottenham after 16 months in charge following an extraordinary rant against his players after they threw away a 3-1 lead at rock-bottom Southampton to cap a miserable March for the club in which they were dumped out of both the FA Cup and the Champions League to leave them without a trophy for another season stretching back to 2008.
Conte, whose contract was due to expire in June was always expected to leave North London at the end of this season, but chairman Daniel Levy has clearly deemed the 56-year-old’s role as untenable and acted swiftly to remove him from his post.
Spurs said in a statement late on Sunday night through chairman Daniel Levy:
“We can announce that Head Coach Antonio Conte has left the Club by mutual agreement. We achieved Champions League qualification in Antonio’s first season at the Club. We thank Antonio for his contribution and wish him well for the future.”
Spurs also announced Conte’s assistant Cristian Stellini will be acting head coach for the rest of the season, with Ryan Mason assistant head coach.
“Cristian Stellini will take the team as Acting Head Coach for the remainder of the season, along with Ryan Mason as Assistant Head Coach.”
“We have 10 Premier League games remaining and we have a fight on our hands for a Champions League place. We all need to pull together. Everyone has to step up to ensure the highest possible finish for our Club and amazing, loyal supporters.”
Conte told Sky Sports after the 3-3 draw: “I’m not used to seeing this type of situation. I see a lot of selfish players and I don’t see a team.”
He added in his post-match press conference: “We are 11 players that go into the pitch. I see selfish players, I see players that don’t want to help each other and don’t put their heart [in].”
Asked to explain Tottenham’s collapse at Southampton, Conte continued: “Because they are used to it here, they are used to it. They don’t play for something important.
“They don’t want to play under pressure, they don’t want to play under stress. It is easy in this way. Tottenham’s story is this.
“Twenty years there is the owner and they never won something – but why? The fault is only for the club, or for every manager that stay here.”
