The 38-year-old has been named by the club as the replacement for Paul Ince, who left the Coca-Cola League One outfit last month to take over at Premier League Blackburn.

The Dons were promoted last season as Ince led them to the League Two title and the club have now charged Di Matteo, who has signed a one-year deal with the option of a further year, with the task of managing with the step up to League One.

He spent six years with the Blues before being forced to retire through injury in 2002 and played in Euro 96 and the World Cup in 1998.

In all, he won 34 caps for his country and was named in Chelsea's greatest ever XI.