Tottenham Hotspur have appointed Antonio Conte as their new head coach following the firing of Nuno Espírito Santo.

Antonio Conte has signed an 18-month contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Ex-boss Nuno Espírito Santo was sacked on Monday after the 3-0 home loss to Manchester United, in which Spurs failed to register a single shot on goal.

Conte, who Spurs chairman Daniel Levy allegedly targeted before appointing Nuno in the summer, has signed an 18-month contract – with an option to extend – after successful talks with the club’s hierarchy in London on Monday.

The former Chelsea manager has already taken charge of his first training session with his new squad on Tuesday afternoon at Hotspur Way.

The 52-year-old Italian, who managed the Blues when they won the 2016-17 Premier League title and the FA Cup the following season, has taken up his first managerial post since leaving Inter Milan, with whom he won the Serie A title last season.

Conte told Tottenham’s website: “I am extremely happy to return to coaching and to do so at a Premier League club that has the ambition to be a protagonist again.”

Conte’s new job sees him link up again with Spurs managing director of football Fabio Paratici, who joined the club in the summer after 11 years in a similar role at Juventus.

Paratici said: “We are delighted to welcome Antonio to the club. His track record speaks for itself, with vast experience and trophies in both Italy and England. I know first-hand the qualities Antonio can bring to us, having worked with him at Juventus, and look forward to seeing his work with our talented group of players.”

Tottenham Hotspur added that more news on Conte’s coaching staff would “follow in due course”.