Football
ESPN staff 8y

Roberto Di Matteo appointed as new Aston Villa manager

Championship club Aston Villa have confirmed the appointment of Roberto Di Matteo as their new manager.

Former Chelsea midfielder Di Matteo, 46, last coached at Bundesliga club Schalke, leaving in May 2015 after seven months in charge.

Previously, the Italian managed at Chelsea -- where he won the Champions League and FA Cup in 2012 -- West Bromwich Albion and MK Dons.

Di Matteo led West Brom to promotion from the Championship in the 2009-10 campaign - and Villa will be hoping for a similar achievement as they look to bounce back from relegation.

He told the club's official website: "It's a wonderful honour for me to become manager of this great football club, and I'm looking forward to the challenge of taking Aston Villa back to its rightful place."

Di Matteo succeeds Remi Garde at Villa Park after the Frenchman left in March, having replaced Tim Sherwood at the struggling club.

Former Aston Villa striker Dion Dublin has backed him to guide the Midlanders back into the top division.

He said: "Villa are such a big football club that the Championship is not so much of a drop down for him.

"It's a very hard league to get out of, but it's a sign of Roberto saying: 'OK, I'm happy to take on the challenge, I don't want everything put on a plate for me.'

"The team isn't good enough to be in the Premier League at the moment, so it's down to Roberto to prove how good he is and how good his recruitment is to get them back into the Premier League.

"I'd back him all the way."

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