Tottenham manager Antonio Conte will spend a period of time away from football after undergoing surgery to remove his gallbladder.
Tottenham announced this morning that Conte recently became unwell and has been suffering from "severe abdominal pain".
Spurs did not put a timeframe on the manager's recovery but said the Italian would return "following a period of recuperation". Conte’s assistant Cristian Stellini seems likely to step in when the north London club host Manchester City on Sunday.
In a statement, Tottenham said: "Antonio Conte recently became unwell with severe abdominal pain. Following a diagnosis of cholecystitis, he will be undergoing surgery to remove his gallbladder today and will return following a period of recuperation. Everyone at the club wishes him well."
The NHS describes cholecystitis as inflammation of the gallbladder. According to the NHS, it can take up to eight weeks to return to full activities after gallbladder surgery.
Tottenham host Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday and then travel to Leicester next week before the first leg of the Champions League last-16 tie against AC Milan in Italy on February 14.
Spurs then host West Ham and Chelsea in big London derbies at the end of the month. The return leg against Milan is at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on March 8.
