Age: 44 Nationality: Italian Clubs Managed: Milton Keynes Dons (2008-09) West Bromwich Albion (2009-11), Chelsea (2012), Schalke 04 (2014-15) Managerial Honours: 2011-12 UEFA Champions League (Chelsea), 2011-12 FA Cup (Chelsea) Roberto di Matteo is an interesting potential candidate for the Newcastle job - because it is difficult to determine whether or not he would be a good appointment. The former Chelsea and Lazio midfielder started his managerial career at Milton Keynes Dons in 2008 and took them to the League One play-off semi-finals, only to lose on penalties to Scunthorpe United. He then moved to West Bromwich Albion in 2009 and led them back to the Premier League at the first attempt, finishing runners-up in the Championship behind Newcastle. However, he was sacked in February 2011 despite the club being far from relegation trouble. It was then in 2011 that he was appointed assistant to Andre Villas-Boas at Chelsea, and following the Portuguese's sacking he led the Blues to both the UEFA Champions League and FA Cup trophies as interim head coach. Sacked just eight months after taking charge, however, Di Matteo was out of work for almost two years before he was appointed Schalke 04 boss in October 2014. After narrowly missing out on the Champions League by finishing sixth, he resigned his post on May 26th. Di Matteo clearly has something as a manager, but would he be a good fit for Newcastle? What's more, if he left Schalke due to a lack of assurances over investment, why would he even countenance a move to St James' Park?
NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.
