Ancelotti is new Chelsea coach

LONDON - Former AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has been appointed as the Chelsea manager. Ancelotti, who has been given a three-year deal, becomes the fifth Chelsea manager in 21 months following Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant, Luiz Felipe Scolari and Guus Hiddink.

Ancelotti, 49, will officially take over July 1 and replaces Russia coach Guus Hiddink, who ended his temporary stint as Chelsea manager with an FA Cup triumph Saturday.

“Carlo was the outstanding candidate for the job,” a statement said on Chelsea website.

“He has proved over a long period his ability to build teams that challenged for, and have been successful in, major domestic and European competitions,” the statement said.

“He also had a highly successful playing career in those competitions and therefore brings unparalleled all round experience to the job.”

Ancelotti, who spent eight seasons at Milan, released an autobiography last week in which he described a meeting with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich following the sacking of Grant during which Abramovich told Ancelotti that he wanted a team with more “personality”.