Steve Holland on track to depart Chelsea on a winning note
By Vishnu Raj
Chelsea are losing two of their sturdiest leaders when the season ends in just over one week. Along with John Terry, assistant coach Steve Holland is departing the club for England’s national team.
Steve Holland has stabilized Chelsea’s coaching staff through the turnover and drama of the last few seasons. On top of his reputation as one of England’s top “training ground coaches,” Holland has kept the Blues together while managers have come and gone. Chelsea fans only have two more opportunities to see Holland on the bench before he takes up the same role with Gareth Southgate’s staff for England.
Holland started his Chelsea career as the manager of the Reserves. He guided them to a Premier League Reserves title in 2010/11, the first title since the 1994/95 season.
He was promoted as the first team assistant manager in 2011 under Andre Villas-Boas. After Villas-Boas was sacked he continued his role under Roberto Di Matteo. He then did the same for interim manager Rafael Benitez.
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When Jose Mourinho returned to Chelsea, Steve Holland remained in his role alongside Mourinho’s usual retinue. On August 2013 he became the assistant manager of England’s U-21 squad under Gareth Southgate. He remained in Mourinho’s staff, though, splitting his time between club and country.
After Mourinho’s sacking, Holland was caretaker manager for one match before he resumed his role as the assistant manager, this time to Guus Hiddink. Antonio Conte smartly kept Holland in his job, knowing how important Holland’s relationships with the players and knowledge of the club would be.
Not long after, Sam Allardyce resigned after barely two months at St. George’s Park. Southgate was promoted to manager of England senior team. He invited Holland to remain on his staff, and Holland accepted.
The senior team brought more responsibility. Holland could no longer split his attention, and decided to leave Chelsea. Antonio Conte expressed his regret about Holland’s decision, but knows what an important opportunity national team duty is to a coach. These chances only happen once in a life time, and few would pass them by. Conte praised Holland’s impact on his team, saying he is a great professional and helped him lot in Chelsea.
The Chelsea hierarchy always held Holland in high regard, and wanted him to be part of the coaching staff. He was always the link that connected team with the coaching staff.
Holland won a host of trophies in west London: two Premier League titles, one Champions League and one Europa League. He won both the League Cup and FA Cup once, and could add to that before he leaves.
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Like John Terry, Steve Holland is closing an era with the Blues. Everyone at Chelsea will want to send them off on a high with a FA Cup victory alongside the Premier League title. Doing so would give Steve Holland his second double at Chelsea.