Di Matteo ready to return to management

(Reuters) – Roberto Di Matteo wants to return to the helm of the club and is open to a new challenge in Europe, the former Chelsea manager said.

The Italian won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012 after also impressing in the Championship, leading West Bromwich Albion to promotion to the top flight in 2010.

The 47-year-old has been out of work since being sacked by Aston Villa last year but said he had already turned down several offers and was keen to return to the touchline.

“You feel it after a while, you want to have that fire in your belly again,” he told Sky Sports. “I’ll manage it again, it’s just a matter of time.

“I’ve had a lot of offers. In fact, the more you tell people you’re not really interested in a coaching job, the more offers you get, it seems.”

Di Matteo led Schalke 04 to sixth place in the Bundesliga before resigning in May 2015 due to a difference of opinion with the club’s owners over plans for the new season.

“To be able to work in the Bundesliga with players of this quality – there are so many young players who actually have the opportunity to play in the first team – was great,” Di Matteo added.

“I speak several languages ​​and I’m always looking to learn and expand my horizons, so I’m open-minded.”

(Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)