New West Brom boss: The facts on Roberto Di Matteo

Jul 1 2009 by Chris Lepkowski

He chipped in with ten goals and numerous assists during the following campaign, as Chelsea went on to claim the Football League Cup and the UEFA Cup Winners Cup, their first European honour since 1971.

In the League Cup final, again against Middlesbrough, Di Matteo scored the 2nd goal in a 2-0 win.

During the 1999-00 season he was hampered by injury but returned late in the season to score a handful of crucial goals, including his third cup-winning goal at Wembley, once again in the FA Cup.

Di Matteo capitalised on an error by Aston Villa goalkeeper David James to score the winner in the 71st minute, handing Chelsea their fourth major trophy in three years.

It was to be his final honour as a footballer.

Early into the 2000-01 season, Di Matteo sustained a triple leg fracture in a UEFA Cup tie against Swiss side FC St. Gallen and spent the next eighteen months on the sidelines.

He eventually gave up on his comeback and retired in February 2002 at the age of 31.

Di Matteo returned to English football almost a year to the day, taking over MK Dons on July 2, 2008, following Paul Inces move to Blackburn Rovers.

He in turn appointed former Chelsea colleague Eddie Newton as his assistant and Ade Mafe, who appeared at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and worked at Chelsea during Di Matteos time there, as his fitness coach - both followed him to The Hawthorns. He led the Dons to third place in Coca-Cola League 1 behind Leicester and Peterborough. They lost 7-6 on penalties in the play-offs semi-finals against Scunthorpe following a 1-1 aggregate score.

As recently as last month, Di Matteo was shortlisted for the vacant FC Basel job in Switzerland.