Roberto Di Matteo joins Schalke: Champions League-winning manager finally returns to management two years after Chelsea sacking

Di Matteo led Chelsea to the Champions League success in 2012 and replaces Jens Keller at the German club

Schalke have appointed Roberto Di Matteo as their new coach after relieving Jens Keller of his duties on Tuesday morning.

Di Matteo, who won the Champions League during a brief spell in charge of Chelsea in 2012, has been out of work since being dismissed by the Blues and he inherits an underperforming side.

Former Stuttgart boss Keller has been shown the door after just under two years in charge of the Royal Blues, with the club currently 11th in the Bundesliga table.

They are just three points above the bottom three and the same distance from the top six and were eliminated from the DFB-Pokal in the first round.

Di Matteo led Chelsea to the 2012 Champions League (AP)

Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Hoffenheim proved to be the final straw for Keller, whose position was always under scrutiny from the day he replaced Huub Stevens.

He managed to lead the club into the Champions League in each of his two seasons.

PA