Antonio Conte: From Diego Costa to Gigi Buffon five top players the new Spurs boss has fallen out with

Antonio Conte is one of the best tacticians but he is also one of the best disciplinarians.
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Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has shown ambition by appointing former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte until 2023.

The Premier League side sacked Nuno Espirito Santo after 10 league games, where they had won five and lost the other five.

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"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," said Conte.

"I can’t wait to start working to convey to the team and the fans the passion, mentality and determination that have always distinguished me, as a player and as a coach.

"Last summer our union did not happen because the end of my relationship with Inter was still too recent and emotionally too involved with the end of the season, so I felt that it wasn’t yet the right time to return to coaching.

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"But the contagious enthusiasm and determination of [Tottenham chairman] Daniel Levy in wanting to entrust me with this task had already hit the mark.

"Now that the opportunity has returned, I have chosen to take it with great conviction."

Antonio Conte has won titles in Serie A, including a hat-trick of Scudettos with Juventus, the Premier League and also managed Italy, leading the Azzurri to the quarter-finals of Euro 2016.

But it’s not all rosy with Conte, and the Italian manager is not one to look the other way when things are not going well or when he feels players are undermining his authority.

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Here are five of the top players who have had the wrath of the 52-year-old in the past.

Diego Costa of Chelsea celebrates scoring his sides first goal during the Emirates FA Cup Final (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)Diego Costa of Chelsea celebrates scoring his sides first goal during the Emirates FA Cup Final (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Diego Costa of Chelsea celebrates scoring his sides first goal during the Emirates FA Cup Final (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Diego Costa

It’s the summer of 2017 and Chelsea have just won the Premier League title, with striker Diego Costa scoring 20 goals in 35 appearances.

But Conte has had enough of Costa’s disruptive antics off the field, and sent him a text message thanking him for his service but saying he was no longer welcomed at the club.

That would lead to Costa’s exit at Stamford Bridge and even though Conte would also leave Chelsea a year later, that episode shows how brutal the Italian manager is with even some of his best players.

Gianluigi Buffon of Juventus  gestures during the TIMVISION Cup (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images for Lega Serie A)Gianluigi Buffon of Juventus  gestures during the TIMVISION Cup (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images for Lega Serie A)
Gianluigi Buffon of Juventus gestures during the TIMVISION Cup (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images for Lega Serie A)

Gianluigi Buffon

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In 2014, Antonio Conte has just led Juventus to their third consecutive Serie A title with 99 points, but still one game to go before the of the season.

Italian journalist Alessandro Alciato tells a story that will reveal everything about Antonio Conte’s mentality.

The title had been wrapped up weeks earlier but Conte had prepared rigorously for the final match against Cagliari – intent on achieving a full century, Alciato said.

Juve’s players were just settling in for a video review session when the goalkeeper Gigi Buffon arrived with the club’s chief executive, Beppe Marotta.

“Excuse me for one moment, boss,” Buffon said.

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“The director just wants to clear up the question of bonuses owed to the team after the title win.”

The suggestion sent Conte into a fury. He chased every player out of the room as he tore into Buffon.

In another context, such a rant could have backfired.

Not every footballer would accept being dressed down so harshly.

Buffon and his team-mates, recognised the intent of Conte’s words was more important than their content. Shaken out of any complacency, Juventus beat Cagliari 3-0.

 Lautaro Martinez of Argentina celebrate after scoring . (Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images) Lautaro Martinez of Argentina celebrate after scoring . (Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images)
Lautaro Martinez of Argentina celebrate after scoring . (Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images)

Lautaro Martínez

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Lautaro Martinez might be highly sought after, due to his form last season alongside Lukaku, but he’s had his share of fall-outs with Antonio Conte.

Martinez came on as a replacement in the 36th minute during Inter’s 3-1 victory over Roma , after Alexis Sanchez had picked up an injury.

Conte, not being happy with his performance, then withdrew him 13 minutes before full time, and that did not go down well with the striker.

As the striker trudged off the pitch, he was seen casting a furious glance in the direction of Conte, with the Inter boss paying no attention to the forward.

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But the Argentine striker kicked a water bottle just before he took his seat and that was when Conte responded saying: “Have some respect.”

“Who are you angry with? Never ever react that way towards me.”

FC Internazionale assistant coach Cristian Stellini reacts during the Serie A match (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)FC Internazionale assistant coach Cristian Stellini reacts during the Serie A match (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
FC Internazionale assistant coach Cristian Stellini reacts during the Serie A match (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Cristian Stellini

Cristian Stellini might have worked as Conte’s assistant at Inter Milan, but before that they hardly got along because of an incident at Bari.

Antonio was just cutting his teeth at Bari, and Stellini was in the last days of his career.

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They had a league game and Conte named Stellini in the starting line-up but after 20 minutes the young manager hooked the veteran defender.

That did not go down well with Stellini.

Both exchanged words and Conte made his feelings known that he expected more from him.

Chelsea's Italian head coach Antonio Conte (L) shakes hands with Chelsea's Brazilian defender David Luiz (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)Chelsea's Italian head coach Antonio Conte (L) shakes hands with Chelsea's Brazilian defender David Luiz (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea's Italian head coach Antonio Conte (L) shakes hands with Chelsea's Brazilian defender David Luiz (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

David Luiz

David Luiz and Antonio Conte got along really well in his first season at Chelsea and even won the league title together in a special season.

But their relationship soon deteriorated when the Brazilian was caught questioning the tactics of the manager.

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He was exiled from the team and never really got a look in until Conte was replaced with Maurizio Sarri.

He is a brutal man who doesn’t like being questioned as Luiz would find out, with Andreas Christensen taking his place in the team.

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