Roberto Di Matteo

Winning the Swiss Nationalliga A with Aarau in 1993, Roberto Di Matteo quickly rose to prominence as a versatile central midfielder. In 1993, he moved to Italy to play for Serie A side Lazio, where his consistent performances earned him a call-up to the Italy national team. He went on to accumulate 34 caps for Italy, scoring two goals, and representing his country in major tournaments including UEFA Euro 1996 and the 1998 FIFA World Cup. In 1996, Di Matteo made a significant move to Chelsea for a then-club record fee of £4.9 million.

He took the helm at Milton Keynes Dons in 2008 for a season, before moving to West Bromwich Albion in 2009. During his tenure at West Bromwich Albion until 2011, he successfully guided the club to promotion to the Premier League in 2010. His leadership was further recognized when he was named Premier League Manager of the Month in September 2010. Di Matteo returned to Chelsea in 2011 as assistant coach and swiftly assumed the role of caretaker manager in March 2012.

His career saw him return to English football with Aston Villa in 2016, where he worked to rebuild the squad. Most recently, Di Matteo served as a technical advisor for Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in 2023, leveraging his extensive experience in elite football to contribute to the club’s strategic development. His distinguished career, spanning both playing and management, is defined by significant trophy wins and a proven ability to lead teams to unprecedented success at the highest levels of the sport.