Chelsea's shortlist to permanently replace Jose Mourinho seems to have been whittled down to three: Antonio Conte, Diego Simeone and Massimiliano Allegri.

And, with the present Atletico Madrid and Juventus bosses quite comfortable in their existing berths, it is looking very much like the Italian national manager is most likely to get the call.

Who is Conte? And how likely is he to succeed at Chelsea?

The 46-year-old ex-midfielder spent most of his playing career at Juventus, where he was signed by Giovanni Trapattoni during his second spell as boss, and went on to play for Marcello Lippi (twice), and Carlo Ancelotti.

As befits life with the Old Lady, he won lots of domestic trophies.

Linked: Antonio Conte

But that key qualifying factor for a Chelsea boss, a Champions League winners medal (all of Roman Abramovich's permanent Chelsea appointments, barring Luis Felipe Scolari and Andre Villas-Boas had one), came only once – in 1996.

He three times missed out in the final – in 1997, 1998, and 2003.

On the international stage, in 20 caps for Italy, he took runners-up medals in the 1994 World Cup and 2000 European Championships.

Conte has been in management for a decade, working his way up through a bit of a classic hierarchy of Italian coaching positions, and essentially being groomed for the country's two top jobs from the off.

Antonio Conte

He eventually took the helm at Juventus in 2011, two years after he was first publicly linked with the job, and scooped three consecutive Scudetti.

There was context here: the stretch coincided with a period of decline for both Milan and Inter; and, though credit is due for the way Conte built Mourinho-esque resilience in his side, there was a feeling that it was their turn to dominate.

He crafted the side in his own image, placing huge importance on the ageing Andrea Pirlo – who had similarities to his own playing style while with the club.

In one of those imagine-what-could-have-been episodes, Conte elevated Pirlo to the status of world's greatest; just as Pirlo's friend Frank Lampard, a year his senior, was fighting for his place in sides managed by Andre Villas-Boas and Rafael Benitez.

Tactically, Conte preferred 3-5-2 (or 5-3-2 when sitting back) – something unlikely to be a huge hit in the Premier League.

And success never came in Europe – the Bianconeri's arrival in the final coming a year after he had left the club.

His movement to the Azurri was pretty much expected: five of the preceding six Italy managers having had some form of playing or coaching link with Juventus.

Bayern beaters: Juventus beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League last season

So far so good in the national job, but the ultimate measure of his success will be decided by how things go in France this summer.

So there are positives and negatives.

Conte took Juventus as a sleeping giant, and reinvigorated them, bringing a period of dominance. But the side failed in Europe – where success matters to Abramovich beyond anything else.

He has worked with some of the game's top coaches and players, but only in Italy. And though tactically astute, as he has shown both on the pitch and in the dugout, his methods will need a great deal of change if they are to work in England.

That said: neither Jose Mournho nor Carlo Ancelotti had managed outside their own country prior to hugely successful stints at Stamford Bridge.

And he will also find the Premier League more competitive than Serie A – with a far greater depth of quality lower down the league.

He does not speak English, but is understood to be learning: and his success in that department is seen as mandatory in deciding whether or not he is even a contender for the Chelsea job.

Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink (left) in the stands with Didier Drogba and club owner Roman Abramovich (right)
Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink (left) in the stands with Didier Drogba and club owner Roman Abramovich (right)

The accusation that Conte has no proven long term success in a job is a bit of a red herring: because, as shown by almost all of the top clubs in Europe, managerial success is a short term thing, and the days of one man sustaining a dynasty largely retired with Sir Alex Ferguson.

If he is picked by Abramovich, there will need to be good communication over the summer: with Conte potentially tied up with his Azzurri until 10th July in France. Chelsea will not want a repeat of the chaotic summer they had when Scolari was appointed boss, as he guided Portugal around Austria and Switzerland in Euro 2008.

Conte is clearly a great coach, both in terms of tactical ability and being a leader of men.

Should he be appointed one would hope he would understand the benefits in keeping both Steve Holland and Eddie Newton in the club hierarchy to provide much-needed local knowledge: both on the pitch, and the training ground.

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