Antonio Conte has stepped down from his role as manager of Tottenham Hotspur by way of mutual consent, the club announced on Sunday. Conte’s assistant coach, Cristian Stellini, will fill the role of acting head coach until the end of the season.
Conte’s departure comes 16 months after he joined the North London club. The Italian achieved notable success in his first season with the club, clinching fourth place in the Premier League to qualify for this season’s UEFA Champions League. This season has been a problematic one for Spurs, however, with the team being eliminated from all cup competitions and Conte’s relationship with the club souring on all fronts.
Prior to his resignation, Conte delivered a scathing criticism of the club in a press conference, directed at both the players and the club’s ownership.
“Tottenham’s story is this: 20 years there is this owner and they never won something. Why?” Conte commented. “The fault is only for the club, or for every manager that stays here? I have seen the managers that Tottenham had on the bench. You risk to disrupt the figure of the manager and to protect the other situation in every moment.”
Spurs are currently fourth in the Premier League and are in contention to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
