Chelsea’s new caretaker Roberto di Matteo has respectable track record on which to to fall back
Where there is a sacking, there is also an opportunity and the irony of West Bromwich Albion’s part in the demise of Andre Villas-Boas is unlikely to be lost on Roberto di Matteo, Chelsea’s new caretaker manager.
West Brom, of course, owed their Premier League status to Di Matteo, who masterminded their promotion from the Championship in 2010, but then lost his job at the Hawthorns last February before joining Chelsea as an assistant coach.
It all means that, although Chelsea may have preferred a more experienced option until the end of the season (Rafael Benitez was under consideration), they are at least getting rather more than an over-promoted ‘No 2’.
Even upon returning as an assistant coach at Chelsea last year, Di Matteo never made any attempt to hide a desire to manage again and he has a very respectable track record on which to to fall back.
The path from the pitch to the dug-out certainly required considerable mental strength.
Di Matteo, of course, had his career ended prematurely at the age of 30 while playing for Chelsea following an horrific triple leg break and sliced nerve. He has since spoken of how the injury sent him into depression.