Chelsea Confirm Villas-Boas Appointment

Chelsea have today confirmed that Andre Villas-Boas is their new manager, the former Porto boss has signed a three-year deal at Stamford Bridge and will start his new job straight away.

Chelsea yesterday paid Porto £13.3m to activate his release clause so Villas-Boas could join the Blues and having agreed personal terms today he has been unveiled as their new chief.

Villas-Boas was previously at Chelsea under Jose Mourinho he is already familiar with the club.
Chelsea released a statement on their website and it said; "Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce that Andre Villas-Boas will be the club's new manager.

"He has signed a three-year contract and will start work immediately.

"Andre was the outstanding candidate for the job. He is one of the most talented young managers in football today and has already achieved much in a relatively short space of time.

"His ambition, drive and determination matches that of Chelsea and we are confident Andre's leadership of the team will result in greater successes in major domestic and European competitions.

"Andre will bring his coaching experience back to a club he is already very familiar with, having previously worked here for three years.

"He has always been highly regarded at Chelsea and everyone here looks forward to welcoming him back and working with him."

Chelsea Close To Announcing Andre Villas-Boas As Chelsea Manager

Chelsea have tonight paid FC Porto £13.3m compensation to release Andre Villas-Boas from his contract with the Portuguese champions, Villas-Boas had earlier resigned from his post..

Andre previously had a spell with Chelsea working alongside Jose Mourinho and is often referred to as ‘Mini-Mourhino’, the 33-year-old helped guide Porto to Europa-League success while winning the cup and league title in Portugal this season and he is set to hold talks with Chelsea in London on Wednesday to discuss personal terms.

Should he agree personal terms, Villas-Boas will become the youngest Premier League manager.

Chelsea had been on the look out for a new manager after sacking Carlo Ancelotti at the end of the season, it now seems certain that the Blues will get their man.

Chelsea said in a statement on their official website: "We note that the release clause of Andre Villas-Boas has been activated.

"We can at this time confirm our interest in him and hope to reach agreement with him on personal terms and make a further announcement in the near future."

Porto has also confirmed that Vitor Pereira will now takeover as their new coach on a two-year contract, after announcing earlier that they had received payment to release Villas-Boas.

A statement to the Portuguese Securities Market Commission read: "FC Porto, in accordance with Article 248 paragraph 1 of the Securities Code, hereby informs the market they have received from Mr Andre Villas-Boas the amount provided for in clause to terminate his employment contract."

Carlo Ancelotti To Take A Year Out

Former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that he will take a one-year sabbatical from management, after being sacked by Chelsea at the end of the season the Italian as decided to takes a year out from management.

Ancelotti had been linked with Aston Villa, QPR and Roma.

"I am in no hurry to coach and I don't need to," Ancelotti told the Italian newspaper La Stampa. "I have not been contacted by any club in England and I have not spoken to Roma. It is all fantasy.

"I have enjoyed this experience [of coaching in England]. I will return to London to organise my life. Besides a six-month break, I have been coaching nonstop since 1995. I will take a year off and look around, study how my colleagues work."

Ancelotti enjoyed a successful playing career at Roma between 1979 and 1987 and has never hidden his wish to guide the club in the future.

"I have always said and I reiterate it that one day I will coach Roma, but it's still early," he said.

Hiddink & Neymar on Chelsea’s Radar

Chelsea are closing on a Brazilian striker Neymar. Last season the Blues had a £19 million pound offer rejected by Neymar’s club Santos.

Chelsea have renewed their interest with a £23 million offer.

Owner Roman Abramovich has made it his top priority to secure Neymar's services and will speak with the player directly in an attempt to convince the 19-year-old to come to London this summer.

A source close to Chelsea said, “Roman is ready to get personally involved to clinch the signing of Neymar.

“He’s aiming to talk with him next month to prove how much he is wanted.”

The signing of Neymar could spell the end of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka’s Chelsea career, with Chelsea splashing out £50 million in January to land Torres it is thought that either Drogba or Anelka will leave Stamford Bridge.

Also last night former manager Guus Hiddink insisted that he will listen to any serious offer from Chelsea, the Dutchman has confirmed that he remained in contact with Abramovich since his spell in 2009.

Hiddink said, "there is a lot of speculation about Chelsea. But if there was a concrete offer, I would think about it".

The Dutchman is currently manager of Turkey’s national side and insists he is committed to his job there, but admits if his side fails to beat Belgium in the Euro 2012 qualifier next week it could be the end.

He added; "if we lose I can imagine they’d say it would be better for me to quit”.

Could Ancelotti be next to leave Chelsea

Carlo Ancelotti's future looks glum

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has laughed off reports that Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola could be in line to replace the Italian at Stamford Bridge; Speculation had been mounting since the weekend that current Blues owner Roman Abramovich wanted the Spaniard to succeed Ancelotti at Stamford Bridge following a low point of Chelsea’s season

Ray Wilkins was axed as Ancelotti's assistant earlier this month and, on Saturday, the club confirmed Frank Arnesen would be leaving his position as sporting director at the end of the season.

Speaking after Sunday's 1-1 dismal draw at Newcastle United, Ancelotti refused to drawn in answering questions over his future.

"I have heard of Pep Guardiola, to be frank," said Ancelotti, whose Premier League champions lost top spot to Manchester United at the weekend.

"But you don't have to ask me - the coach is always the last to know. Don't ask me.

"We are not interested. We focus on our training and our matches."

Ancelotti also laughed off the claims that Chelsea are aiming to appoint Beguiristain as Arnesen's successor in West London.

The Italian joked: "I don't know this name. I think there was a player at Barcelona, but I don't know what job he is doing now."