Antonio Conte Appointed Chelsea Manager: Latest Details and Reaction

Antonio Conte has been appointed as Chelsea's new permanent manager and will replace interim boss Guus Hiddink after his duties with Italy conclude following UEFA Euro 2016.

The Blues confirmed the news on Monday. According to the Guardian's David Hytner, Diego Simeone and Massimiliano Allegri were targets.

The Chelsea statement relayed Conte's comments upon the announcement of his appointment:

"

I am very excited about the prospect of working at Chelsea Football Club. I am proud to be the coach of the national team of my country, and only a role as attractive as manager of Chelsea could follow that.

I am looking forward to meeting everyone at the club and the day-to-day challenge of competing in the Premier League.

Chelsea and English football are watched wherever you go, the fans are passionate and my ambition is to have more success to follow the victories I enjoyed in Italy.

I am happy we have made the announcement now so everything is clear and we can end the speculation. I will continue to focus on my job with the Italian national team and will reserve speaking about Chelsea again until after the Euros.

"

The move signals Conte's return to club management for the first time since he left his post with Juventus in 2014.

The Times' Oliver Kay is convinced Conte's appointment at Stamford Bridge will prompt an instant improvement from the Blues next season:

Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe speculated as to how the former midfielder may set Chelsea out:

The 46-year-old faces the tough task of returning Chelsea to the top of English football following their limp Premier League title defence in 2015-16, which has seen them struggle in or near the bottom half of the table for much of the campaign. They find themselves 10th with seven games remaining.

However, Conte has history with reinvigorating struggling giants; he returned Juve to the top of Italian football.

Following their promotion back to Serie A in 2007 after the Calciopoli scandal saw them demoted the previous year, the Turin giants recorded third- and second-place finishes before coming in seventh in following seasons.

Conte's appointment in 2011-12 had the desired effect immediately, as he led them to their first official Serie A title since 2003 in his first season in charge, and he repeated the trick in 2012-13 and 2013-14.

Neither Tighe nor colleague Dean Jones believes Conte will have as instant an impact at Chelsea by winning the Premier League next season:

However, he has maintained his reputation since leaving Juve, and as manager of Italy, he oversaw an unbeaten qualifying campaign for Euro 2016.

Jones previously insisted Conte has a high enough profile to be able to attract big names to Stamford Bridge in the summer despite the fact Chelsea will not be able to offer UEFA Champions League football:

Blues fans will be hoping he is proved correct.

Conte has the credentials to succeed at Chelsea, and owner Roman Abramovich will undoubtedly back him as he looks to return the Blues to their former glories.