FOOTBALL: Former Chelsea Boss Named Aston Villa Manager

– Former Chelsea head coach Roberto Di Matteo has been named Aston Villa boss
– His former Chelsea teammate and former Chelsea coach Steve Clarke will be his assistant
– Clarke and Di Matteo have both managed West Brom in the Premier League

 

Former Chelsea manager Roberto di Matteo has been appointed the new manager of relegated Aston Villa with former West Brom boss Steve Clarke named his assistant. The Italian succeeds Remi Garde, who was sacked in March before the club’s relegation from the Premier League.

Di Matteo won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012 but was sacked in late 2012. Villa were linked with ex-Manchester United boss David Moyes and new Derby County manager Nigel Pearson, but Di Matteo won the race to be Villas boss.

The former West Brom boss and Clarke, 52, have been out of management since last year and have never worked together in management but were Chelsea team-mates for two 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 managed West Brom in the 2009-10 season when the club was in the Championship and helping them win promotion to the Premier League.