Conte promises ´attractive football´ at Tottenham in bid to earn supporters´ trust

Antonio Conte has promised to bring “attractive football” to Tottenham in a bid to earn the trust of supporters.

The 52-year-old was appointed by Spurs on an 18-month contract on Tuesday following the sacking of Nuno Espirito Santo.

Conte has enjoyed previous success in English football with Chelsea, whom he guided to the Premier League and FA Cup during his two seasons in charge.

Indeed, of all managers to have taken charge of at least 20 Premier League games, only Pep Guardiola (73 per cent) has a higher winning percentage than Conte (67 per cent).

He also won the Scudetto three seasons running with Juventus and once in his two years with Inter either side of that Stamford Bridge spell and a two-year stint as Italy head coach.

The Italian is now looking to make a similar impact at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in what is his ninth different managerial job at club and international level.

“To be Tottenham manager is a great pleasure, a great honour,” he told the club’s official website. “Now I want to repay this trust. 

“My coaching philosophy is very simple: to play good football and attractive football for our fans, with passion. To have a stable team, not up and down.

“The fans deserve to have a competitive team with a will to fight. I’ll do everything to deserve their support.”

He added: “Tottenham are an important club in England and around the world. The stadium and training ground are wonderful. 

“The club and Daniel Levy wanted me strongly. This is a good opportunity, an honour to accept and become the manager.

“I have seen on Tuesday the training ground and I want to start work. I arrive at a top club. 

“These situations push you and increase the desire to do something important for the fans of this club.”

Nuno’s tenure lasted just 10 Premier League matches – the fewest of any Tottenham boss, one less than Jacques Santini in 2004.

The Portuguese was only appointed after Conte – and reportedly several others – turned down the chance to take over as Jose Mourinho’s permanent successor in the close season.

Conte has reiterated that decision was down to timing, having only stepped down as head coach of Scudetto winners Inter at the end of May.

“Honestly there was a call from Tottenham in the summer, but I was very clear,” he said. “I had just finished with Inter, two important, very tough seasons.

“Honestly it wasn’t the right time to start again another experience. I prefer to wait and enjoy the time with my family. 

“Also, because I think emotionally I was still with the last experience with Inter.”

Among other records, in the three-points-per-win era Conte is the only coach to have won 90+ points in a single season with two different sides in Serie A – Juve (2013-14) and Inter (2020-21).

Having enjoyed huge success at both clubs, as well as Tottenham’s London rivals Chelsea, Conte is now taking on a different challenge with the Lilywhites.

“All that is the past. I live in the present. I played at Juventus for 13 years and won a lot; then I returned as coach and started the nine titles in a row,” he said. 

“It means Juventus dominated. I started that run and I stopped the cycle with Inter. In the last two years with Inter we had the second-best attack and best defence. 

“My past, what I did with previous clubs, is important. I’m proud. For me, the new challenge is Tottenham. I want it to become an important part of my career as a manager.”

Conte’s first game in charge of Tottenham will be Thursday’s Europa Conference League clash with Vitesse, before facing Everton in the Premier League on Sunday.