Italy names Giampiero Ventura as new coach for after Euros

ROME – Former Torino manager Giampiero Ventura was appointed as Italy’s new coach on Tuesday and will take over the Azzurri after the European Championship.

Ventura had been widely expected to be named as the successor to Antonio Conte, who is taking over at Chelsea after the tournament in France. Ventura’s appointment was confirmed Tuesday after a meeting at the Italian soccer federation.

Federation President Carlo Tavecchio said the 68-year-old was chosen for his experience, team management skills and moral values.

“I kept faith with my first idea, which came to fruition a month ago and so I announce that Giampiero Ventura will be the new head coach of the national team after the Euros,” Tavecchio said. “He will have a two-year contract which goes up until the World Cup in Russia.

“The criteria which led me to Ventura is that he is a master of football. He also taught his innovative ways to so many coaches, he launched so many players into the national team, he has a limitless experience in the formation of youth sectors and I think he has always had a healthy concept of belonging.”

Ventura, who will earn a reported 1.3 million euros per year ($1.5 million), will be officially presented on July 18. He is expected to bring with him several of his key staff from Torino.

Ventura has coached the northern club for the past five seasons, securing promotion from Serie B in his first year and guiding the club to two top-10 finishes in Serie A before last season’s 12th-place finish.

His only trophy is a third division title with Lecce in 1996.

Ventura left Torino last month, after the Serie A season ended, and was replaced by former AC Milan coach Sinisa Mihajlovic.

Conte announced in March that he would step down as Italy coach after Euro 2016.

Italy is in one of the toughest groups at the tournament. It opens against Belgium on June 13, followed by Sweden and Ireland in Group E.

___ This story has been corrected to show that Conte’s first name is Antonio, not Antono