Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero backs Angelo Alessio to shine at 'excellent club' Kilmarnock

The new Rugby Park manager was Antonio Conte’s assistant at Juventus in Del Piero’s 19th and final season in Turin as the Serie A giants wrapped up an invincible season.

Alessio is still wetting his feet as a manager but World Cup winner Del Piero is confident the Italian can emulate his long-term friend and former colleague Conte as he strides out on his own at Rugby Park.

“I had the pleasure of working with Angelo Alessio and got to know him from a personal and professional point of view," said the six-time Serie A champion.

“I appreciated his technical and human qualities. He is a man of character, very meticulous in his work and as versatile as when he played.

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“For many years he has been the main technical collaborator for Antonio Conte, in Italy and at Chelsea, and Conte would have liked him to join him at Inter.

“Alessio has chosen to walk alone and at Kilmarnock I think you will have the opportunity to appreciate his qualities. I have known him as an assistant but not as a manager and it is not a simple transition, especially at the beginning.

“One thing is certain: Alessio has character, skills and desire to do well. Throughout his career, as a footballer and coach, he has always been appreciated for his great flexibility and for his constant desire to improve. Antonio Conte's obsession with victory is a nice starting point for those seeking success in a new path.”

Conte and Alessio forged a successful partnership during their time together with Siena in Italian football’s second tier before leading Juventus to three Serie A titles.

The pair then enjoyed a two-year stint with their national team before heading to the English Premier League with Chelsea, winning the league at the first time of asking.

And Del Piero believes Alessio will look to instil the same philosophy he relied on as a coach in his first management role.

“In eight years of working together, Conte and Alessio have shared everything. Antonio and Angelo are different characters, but for this reason they have complemented each other for many years.

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“Mr Alessio faces a new challenge, in which he will bring methods and principles that have always been the basis of Conte's philosophy: work ethics, obsessive attention to every single detail and the hunger for victory that never fails.”

Angelo Alessio’s appointment might have come from left field but Juventus’ all-time leading goal scorer Del Piero thinks the Ayrshire side and the 54-year-old are a good match.

“I think it's a great opportunity for both. Scottish football will interact with an Italian coach who wants to give himself a new and more personal dimension after so many successful seasons assisting a great coach who was able to establish himself in Italy, England and also with our national team.

“Alessio starts a new path with an excellent club, replacing an important manager like Steve Clarke who was not surprisingly chosen to lead the Scottish national team.

“In Italy it was taken for granted that Alessio would follow Conte to Inter. Everything was ready and certainly Angelo would have signed an important contract and experienced another compelling experience alongside 'his' coach.

“It went differently because Kilmarnock ignited the desire for a challenge of his own.”