Roberto Di Matteo has emerged as a surprise candidate for the vacant Brentford job.
The Bees are in the hunt for a new manager after Dean Smith left them for fellow Championship side Aston Villa yesterday.
Di Matteo, who has been out of work since he was sacked by Villa in October 2016, has become the second favourite for the job on SkyBet. The favourite is the caretaker boss, Thomas Frank, who was Smith’s assistant at Griffin Park.
Di Matteo had spells at Zurich, Aarau, Lazio and Chelsea in his playing days. The 48-year-old then started his managerial career with MK Dons in July 2008 and got them to the League One Play-Offs in his first and only season at the club.
West Bromwich Albion then lured him away from Stadium Mk in June 2009 and he guided the Baggies to promotion to the Premier League in his first campaign. However, Di Matteo was sacked the following season in the top flight in February 2011.
Di Matteo then moved back to Chelsea as Andre Villas-Boas’ assistant manager and became caretaker manager in March 2012. The Italian then guided the London side to the FA Cup and the Champions League two months later, bagging himself the permanent manager’s role as a result.
However, things have turned sour for him since his trophy heroics. Di Matteo was harshly sacked by Chelsea in November 2012 despite winning them two major trophies. Unsuccessful spells at Bundesliga side Schalke and Aston Villa have followed. Could he get his career back on track with Brentford?
