Antonio Conte to Chelsea: Italian will be the boss of the dressing room, warns Gianluigi Buffon

Disciplinarian: Gianluigi Buffon says Antonio Conte (pictured) believes in rules
(Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
Vaishali Bhardwaj17 March 2016

Gianluigi Buffon has backed Antonio Conte to succeed at whichever club he decides to coach at next, but warned his future players the 46-year-old will implement a strict regime within the dressing room.

Conte is set to become Chelsea's new coach after both he and the Italian Football Federation's President, Carlo Tavecchio, confirmed on Tuesday he will not renew his contract with the Azzurri past this summer's European Championships.

Conte revealed his decision not to stay on as Italy coach was driven by a desire to return to club management and, should he make the move to Stamford Bridge in the coming months, the 46-year-old will bring with him a style of management very much in contrast to current Chelsea interim coach Guus Hiddink.

Buffon knows Conte well, playing under him in the Italy national team as well at Juventus previously, and the goalkeeper has backed the 46-year-old to bring success to his next club - but also discipline.

"He is the boss of the dressing room. He is a coach who believes in discipline and rules," Buffon told The Mirror.

"There is a very strict code of conduct as to how players should behave on the field and off the field.

"Conte has very clear ideas about behaviour, respect, being on time for training, no phones during certain times.

"He doesn't do it to show he is the boss, he just wants everybody as focused as he is."

He added: "I would back him to succeed at any club in any country."

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