Tottenham’s new head coach had to serve ban over match fixing allegations
Tottenham's new head coach had to serve a two-year ban over match-fixing allegations when he was at Juventus.
Cristian Stellini, 48, was promoted to Spurs' interim boss following Antonio Conte's departure from the club by mutual consent on Sunday. Conte's days were numbered when he lambasted the Spurs squad, owner, and the club's achievements over the years, after they blew a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Southampton.
Conte's exit saw his pal Stellini, who has been by his side since his time in the Serie A, propelled into Spurs' managerial hot-seat. But Stellini was handed a lengthy ban for his alleged match-fixing, leading to his resignation from his post at Juventus as technical assistant in 2012.
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The investigation into match-fixing began in 2011, stemming from Stellini's time at Bari when he was accused of receiving money to influence the result during the team's match against Salernitana. Stellini, who was subsequently banned for two years, always maintained his innocence and denied any wrongdoing in the game Bari won 3-1.
Stellini's resignation letter read, via Football Italia at the time of the alleged crime: "The events of the last month have deeply affected me. In a short space of time I went from member of the technical staff of the champions of Italy to a cause of turmoil for those I worked with.
“Whatever the evolution of the legal situation I am in, I feel it is only right to show a professional attitude and release this weight from Juventus which fell on to the club’s shoulders due to my time elsewhere in my career.
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“I think it is right to dedicate all my time and efforts to clearing my position in these matters, which are exclusively about me and not those I simply shared a locker room with. I therefore tend my irrevocable resignation as technical assistant at Juventus.”
However, after serving the ban, Stellini rejoined Conte at Inter in the 2019/20 season, and went onto win the Scudetto. They first worked together at Siena in the 2005/06 campaign, before Stellini's betting controversy with Juve and their title win at Inter.
Stellini then followed Conte to Spurs in 2021, but for the time being it appears that he won't be alongside Conte for his next role after taking the reins at Tottenham. But he could be the right man to lead Spurs into a Champions League spot as he maintained a 100% winning record when he replaced Conte in Inter's dugout while the club's boss served a touchline ban in 2021.
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