Roberto Di Matteo Former Italian footballer, manager of Chelsea Football Club. Date of Birth: 29.05.1970 Country: Italy

1. Early Career
2. Chelsea Revolution
3. Injury and Retirement
4. International Career
5. Return as Manager
6. West Bromwich Albion
7. Chelsea Return
8. Personal Life

Early Career

Roberto di Matteo, a former Italian footballer, was born in Switzerland to Italian parents. He began his playing career in the Swiss club Schaffhausen and later moved to Aarau in 1991. In 1993, he signed for Lazio, where he spent three seasons before leaving due to a disagreement with the coach after a poor performance in a match against Internazionale.

Chelsea Revolution

Di Matteo found a new home at Chelsea, where his exceptional passing skills and accurate long-range strikes became crucial factors in the club's late 1990s revival. In his first season, he scored nine goals and helped the team achieve a sixth-place finish in the league. He continued to perform consistently the following season, scoring 10 goals and assisting in several others.

Injury and Retirement

Di Matteo suffered an injury during the 1999-2000 season but returned towards the end and scored vital goals. One of his most notable strikes came against Aston Villa, capitalizing on an error by goalkeeper David James to secure Chelsea's fourth major trophy in three years, the FA Cup. Di Matteo's 2000-2001 season was again hampered by injuries, including a triple leg fracture that forced him out of action for 18 months. He was unable to make a full recovery and retired from playing in February 2002.

International Career

Di Matteo made his international debut for Italy on November 16, 1994, as a 55th-minute substitute in a Euro 96 qualification match. He represented his country twice, scoring two goals.

Return as Manager

After retiring, di Matteo took up management, returning to the sport on July 2, 2008, when he replaced Paul Ince as manager of Milton Keynes Dons. He guided the team to a third-place finish in League One by the end of the season.

West Bromwich Albion

On June 30, 2009, di Matteo became manager of West Bromwich Albion, which had just been relegated from the Premier League. He led them to promotion back to the Premier League in his first season. They performed well in the following season, finishing in a respectable position despite a disappointing 6-0 loss to his former club Chelsea. Di Matteo was named Manager of the Month for his efforts. However, after a poor run of form between December 2010 and January 2011, he was sacked in February following a 0-3 loss to Manchester City.

Chelsea Return

Di Matteo was linked with the manager's position at Birmingham City but was unsuccessful in his pursuit. On June 29, 2011, he became assistant manager at Chelsea and later became interim manager until the end of the season after the departure of his predecessor. Under his leadership, the team performed well, and he was retained as manager. It was under di Matteo's management that Chelsea triumphed in the UEFA Champions League.

Personal Life

Roberto di Matteo currently resides in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, and commutes to London for work. He is married to Zoe, and they have three children.