LONDON, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Tottenham Hotspur announced late on Sunday night that they had parted company with head coach Antonio Conte by mutual agreement, with his assistant Cristian Stellini placed in charge of the team until the end of the season.
The announcement ended over a week of speculation over Conte's future, after an explosive press conference following his side surrendering a 3-1 lead to end with a 3-3 draw away to Southampton eight days ago.
Conte, whose contract was to expire at the end of the campaign, questioned the mentality of his squad and called the players "selfish", highlighting a breakdown of relations with the dressing room.
The outburst came in the wake of Tottenham's exit from the FA Cup at the hands of second-tier Sheffield United and their tame departure from the UEFA Champions League against AC Milan, which ended their chance of a trophy this season.
Tottenham released a statement on their website thanking Conte for his contribution and wishing him well for the future, while club chairman Daniel Levy urged fans and players to "pull together" over the remaining games of the season as Tottenham look to ensure their place in next season's Champions League.
Former Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann heads the list of candidates to be Conte's long-term replacement, along with former Spain boss Luis Enrique, and current Brighton coach Roberto De Zerbi. ■
