Get to know Antonio Conte’s management staff at Chelsea FC
By George Perry
Chelsea FC revealed Antonio Conte’s full training staff today, featuring some of his long-time lieutenants from Italy, a Chelsea favorite and the ever-steady Steve Holland.
Most top-tier football managers build a retinue of trusted assistants who link their careers and fortunes to each other. Clubs welcome a new manager knowing that he will bring in his entourage and, when the time comes, the entourage will leave with him.
These staffers have often worked with the manager since early in his career, and share deep understandings of vision, communication and philosophy. The manager tasks them with translating his overarching strategy into the day-to-day work of strength and conditioning, training sessions, and tactical review. They can be loyal to a fault, often bro-mancey and sometimes aggressively protective of their patron.
Antonio Conte brought several of his long-time assistants to Chelsea, and the club confirmed their roles today ahead of the Blues’ departure for the United States tour this weekend. Conte’s men complement long-time Chelsea assistant coaches to round out the squad charged with implementing Conte’s vision at Cobham.
Next: Assistant first-team coach Angelo Alessio