Posted June 28, 201113 yr There's a rumor making rounds on Twitter that Robbie is on his way back to the club as an assistant to AVB. Great news, if true.
June 29, 201113 yr Author British press catching up. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jun/29/roberto-di-matteo-chelsea-assistant? http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2009289/Roberto-Di-Matteo-returns-Chelsea-No-2-Andre-Villas-Boas.html?
June 29, 201113 yr From Official Chelsea site (click here) DI MATTEO RETURNS AS ASSISTANTPosted on: Wed 29 Jun 2011 Andre Villas-Boas this morning introduced his new backroom team, announcing the return to the club of Roberto Di Matteo as assistant first team coach. The Italian is already a Chelsea legend, having served the club as a stylish midfielder between 1996 and 2002, when injury forced his retirement at the age of 31, and now rejoins the club to become an important member of backroom staff with top level coaching experience. Di Matteo is best remembered at Stamford Bridge for his FA Cup final goals of 1997 and 2000, the first of which set a Wembley record for the earliest in a final after just 43 seconds. The 41-year-old was most recently manager at West Bromwich Albion, where he achieved promotion to the Barclays Premier League at the first attempt before departing The Hawthorns in early February this year. He previously spent a season in charge of MK Dons. Villas-Boas also brings with him to Stamford Bridge Jose Mario Rocha, a 48-year-old fitness expert who worked alongside the new manager at both his previous clubs, Porto and Academica. Another new face will be Daniel Sousa, who will become head opposition scout, the role previously occupied by Villas-Boas in his first spell at the club between 2004 and 2007. Sousa also worked alongside Villas-Boas at each of his former clubs. Following the success of last season's reserve side, who became national champions, reserve coach Steve Holland will also step up to work with the senior squad, becoming an assistant first team coach, while Christophe Lollichon continues as goalkeeping coach.
June 29, 201113 yr Good news, sets himself up to take over if Villas Boas is successful and then decides to move on.
June 29, 201113 yr I am well pleased with this move.. the best manager in the Prem League last year by far with the resources available (so unjustifiably sacked!) is out assistant
June 29, 201113 yr Love Roberto...one of my favourite ever players to wear the Chelsea blue. Looking forward to seeing how he and Andre do.
June 29, 201113 yr Worth noting that this appointment came completely out of the blue. The press, collectively never got a whiff of the story until it was all but done.. Maybe now we can have a little less complaining about what the club aren't seen to be doing..
June 29, 201113 yr I am well pleased with this move.. the best manager in the Prem League last year by far with the resources available (so unjustifiably sacked!) is out assistant And he probably makes twice the money here...My only concern here is that Roberto is a strong personality so there might be some clashes with AVB. I dont't think Villas-Boas is a push-over either. But I think they'll do just fine.
June 29, 201113 yr Delighted with this move, dint see it coming and I dare say AVB already has the fans support without winning a game !!
June 29, 201113 yr Worth noting that this appointment came completely out of the blue. The press, collectively never got a whiff of the story until it was all but done.. Maybe now we can have a little less complaining about what the club aren't seen to be doing.. Interesting isn't it. Though talking to an individual and it not getting out, is a bit different to negotiating with a club for a player, where there are all sorts of leaks that can happen.
June 29, 201113 yr RDM lives in the same town as me, im always seeing him around here (unsurprisingly he is always hanging out at one of the Italian restaurants!). I keep promising myself i would go up to him and shake his hand next time i see him but i always bottle it. He always looks very cool and approachable. I suspect he was here because if its locality to the M40 and ease of journey to London and Birmingham. Wonder if he will move back down to London now. I think he still owns his restaurant in Chelsea, bound to be spending more time there now! I am well pleased with this move.. the best manager in the Prem League last year by far with the resources available (so unjustifiably sacked!) is out assistant He was unlucky at West Brom, i think he paid for the good start they got off to, but bearing in mind how they finished up in the table , they might've called it right as it did seem WBA were in freefall. Who knows ? Lots of rumors here about him losing the dressing room and only turning up on matchdays and for pressers towards the end. As Assistant manager his role will be more focused on getting them playing the right way than tactical decisions (Which appears to be AVB's forte). So this is the perfect role for him. Plus he can probably learn a lot to help him get managerial work in future Great to see him back at CFC anyway, total legend. 43 seconds! Must dig out that t-shirt somewhere... Edited June 29, 201113 yr by bjd
June 29, 201113 yr 43 seconds! Must dig out that t-shirt somewhere... I stopped wearing mine, the ladies were getting the wrong idea... Really pleased at this appointment. Interesting that AVB just said he personally called and selected Di Matteo.
June 29, 201113 yr Interesting that AVB just said he personally called and selected Di Matteo. "Hello Robbie, it's The Boas here. How about coming back to the Bridge?"
June 29, 201113 yr I stopped wearing mine, the ladies were getting the wrong idea... Exactly, nothing worse than getting their hopes up... Such brilliant news, and as Hutch says it will maybe quieten a few dissenters with regards to rumours and signings with the way the club have done this. Welcome back Robbie D....
