THE FOLLOWING IS COPIED FOR THE BBC ON-LINE SITE: Italian Claudio Ranieri has been appointed as Chelsea's new coach after signing a three-year contract.

Ranieri agreed to succeed Gianluca Vialli after talks with Chelsea managing director Colin Hutchinson - and is expected to be officially unveiled after tying up loose ends in Italy over the weekend.

Former Fiorentina, Valencia and Atletico Madrid coach Ranieri was at Stamford Bridge to watch Chelsea's Uefa Cup win over St Gallen.

And he confirmed Chelsea's interest when he said: "I was flattered by the call. If there are roses they will bloom."

Chelsea managing director Colin Hutchinson confirmed that talks had been taking place with Ranieri and said: "Just as we have lists of players who we might want in the future, we also have a list of top coaches and Ranieri was on that list."

Impressed

Hutchison was impressed when Ranieri's Valencia beat Barcelona three times in a week two years ago.

He said: "I kept thinking that Louis van Gaal at Barcelona would come up with something different, but Claudio Ranieri got the better of him on each occasion.

"He has a very good reputation in football and hopefully the talks will go well. We do have a long list of applicants. That reflects the progress we have made as a club."

Ranieri, 48, has been without a coaching position since he resigned from Atletico Madrid in March.

The former Roma player made his name as coach of Sardinian club Cagliari whom he led from Serie C to Serie A.

Resigned

He then worked as coach of Napoli for two seasons, a period when current Chelsea striker Gianfranco Zola played for the southern Italian club.

Ranieri then joined Fiorentina in 1993, winning promotion to Serie A and then won the Italian Cup and Italian Super Cup in 1996 for the Florence club.

He moved to Valencia in 1997, winning the Spanish Cup and earning qualification for the Champions League before leaving for Atletico Madrid in the summer of 1999.

Despite the goals of Dutchman Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, now with Chelsea, Atletico struggled in the league and with the club suffering from serious financial problems Ranieri resigned in March.

-- Anonymous, September 15, 2000

Answers

Hahaha they're signing the man who got Atletico relegated last year....hilarious :))

-- Anonymous, September 15, 2000

With so many Italians, Italian speaking and general foriegn players in the dressing room, you didn't really expect them to get someone who boasts English as their first language did you.

Lets just hope he can emulate the AM scenario at SB.......I could fancy the idea of swapping Fulham for Chewsee at the end of the season, if it didn't mean one wanker chairman in place of another.

-- Anonymous, September 15, 2000

Hmm - I wonder if JFH laid down the law and insisted his mate Ranieri came to play??

-- Anonymous, September 15, 2000

With over 20 people to chose from it does seem a little strange, as Gav says he got Athletico relegated last season, he can't be that good. Looks like we'll be looking for a top 5 finish now that Chelsea are screwed up then?

-- Anonymous, September 15, 2000

He wasn't actually even in charge when they got relegated: he had been sacked uin March, about the same time as Danny Wilson and just in time to be blamed for relegation for ever more.

-- Anonymous, September 15, 2000

Gav , get your facts right before you start making scandalous remarks that have little truth in them.

-- Anonymous, September 16, 2000

Damn! I was desperately hoping they'd reappoint Huge Gullet. He and Bates deserve each other.

-- Anonymous, September 16, 2000