Chelsea staff profiles

Written by Simon Austin — April 4, 2018
Pen pics of Chelsea's coaching, sports science, medicine and analytics staff. To see staff profiles for other clubs, click here.
FOOTBALL LEADERSHIP
SPORTING DIRECTOR
Paul Winstanley

Nationality: English
Previously spent eight years with Brighton, latterly as Head of Recruitment. Played a major role in finding and developing talent for the Seagulls. Joined Chelsea in November 2022. Clubs say he will “oversee the entire sporting team, comprising talent, scouting, recruitment and data", along with Stewart.
SPORTING DIRECTOR
Laurence Stewart

Nationality: English
Arrived from AS Monaco, where he was also Technical Director, in October 2022. Background is in recruitment and analysis, with Everton (as Senior Recruitment Co-ordinator), Manchester City (Head of Performance Analysis) and the Football Association (Performance Analyst). Was our guest on Episode #25 of the TGG Podcast.
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Christopher Vivell

Nationality: German
Joined in December 2022. Previously Technical Director at RB Leipzig for two years, responsible for recruitment and scouting across all age groups. Also spent five years with RB Salzburg as Head of Scouting and Recruitment.
DIRECTOR OF RECRUITMENT AND TALENT
Joe Shields

Nationality: English
Appointed in October 2022 after less than four months at Southampton, where he was Head of Senior Recruitment. Prior to that he spent nine years at Manchester City, initially as Academy Scouting Manager and then Head of Academy Recruitment and Talent Management. ’
COACHING
GOALKEEPER COACH
Toni Jimenez

Nationality: Spanish
The former keeper has worked with Pochettino since the start of his managerial career, at Espanyol in 2009.
HEAD COACH
Mauricio Pochettino

Nationality: Argentine
Won 20 caps for Argentina and has also had an elite managerial career, taking charge of Espanyol, Southampton, Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain. Led Spurs to the Champions League final in 2019 and won the league and cup at PSG.
ASSISTANT
Miguel d’Agostino

Nationality: Argentine
Played alongside Pochettino for Newell's Old Boys and the duo have remained friends ever since. Has been the manager's assistant at all his clubs - Espanyol, Southampton, Spurs, PSG and now Chelsea.
ASSISTANT/ FITNESS COACH
Jesus Perez

Nationality: Spaniard
Third member of Pochettino's triumvirate of assistants, who has also been with him throughout his managerial career. Was already an analyst at Espanyol when Pochettino arrived and soon gained his trust, remaining with him as he moved to clubs in England and France.
GOALKEEPER COACH
Ben Roberts

Nationality: English
Ex-Middlesbrough keeper joined Brighton's staff in June 2015 following coaching spells at Yeovil and Charlton. Holds a first-class degree in sports science and coaching. Another who moved with Potter in September 2022.
GOALKEEPER COACH
Henrique Hilario

Nationality: Portuguese
Made 39 appearances as a player between 2006 and 2014. Returned in 2016 as assistant goalkeeping coach under Antonio Conte.
GOALKEEPER COACH
James Russell

Nationality: English
Joined the club as a 14-year-old keeper and stayed until he was 20. Started his coaching career at Chelsea in 2009 and worked with the Academy before being promoted at the start of 2020/21.
PERFORMANCE
DIRECTOR OF PERFORMANCE
Bryce Cavanagh

Nationality: Australian
Worked for the Football Association as Director of Performance for eight years before joining the Blues at the start of 2023/24. Worked in a range of sports before that, including (Munster and Melbourne Rebels), cricket (West Indies), netball (New South Wales) and Aussie Rules (Sydney Swans).
HEAD OF PERFORMANCE SERVICES
Nick Chadd

Nationality: English
Joined Chelsea in August 2023 from Benfica, where he was Head of Sport Science and Strength & Conditioning. Previously worked for Manchester City for almost four years, latterly as City Football Group's Lead Sports Scientist and S&C Coach.
SPORT SCIENTIST
Sebastiano Pochettino

Nationality: Spanish
Born in Espanyol when his father was playing for the club. Went on to gain a first class degree in sports and exercise at Southampton Solent University. Became the youngest sport scientist in the Premier League at Tottenham, at the age of 22, and has remained part of his father's inner circle of staff ever since.
HEAD OF SPORTS SCIENCE & PSYCHOLOGY
Tim Harkness

Nationality: South African
Has held this position since July 2009. Previously worked in private practice in his native South Africa.
FITNESS COACH
Will Tullett

Nationality: English
Joined the first team as a fitness coach at the start of 2019/20, having previously been a movement specialist with the youth and senior teams for eight years.
FITNESS COACH
Matt Birnie

Nationality: English
Has worked at Chelsea since 2005. Was Head of Athletic Development in the Academy before moving up to the first team when Frank Lampard was appointed manager at the start of 2019/20. Replaced Paolo Bertelli, who moved on to Sampdoria and then Juventus.
PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE COACH
Tom Farrow

Nationality: English
Joined in January 2023, having previously been Head of Sport Science at Wolves in 2021/22. Knows Freddie Murray (who had conducted a review of Chelsea's Performance & Medical department) after working as a consultant for his Remedy company.
MEDICAL
MEDICAL DIRECTOR
Dimitrios Kalogiannidis
Nationality:
Joined in 2018 as first-team doctor. Promoted to Interim Head of Medical at start of 2022/23 season.
FIRST TEAM DOCTOR AND HEAD OF ACADEMY MEDICAL
Christopher Hughes

Nationality: English
Highly experienced club doctor. Worked for Chelsea from 2012 to 2017 and knows Pochettino well from his time at Tottenham (2017 to 2021). Club doctor at Brentford in 2022/23 before returning to Chelsea at the start of the following season.
SENIOR PHYSIO
Steve Hughes

Nationality: English
Has been with Chelsea since 2001, making him one of the most experienced physios in the Premier League. Previously worked in the NHS.
PHYSIO
Fearghal Kerin

Nationality: Irish
Joined in January 2023 following restructure that saw Paco Biosca, Thierry Laurent, Jason Palmer and Jon Fearn leave the club. Previously Rehab Physio with Leinster Rugby for eight-and-a-half years.
CONSULTANT PHYSIO
Dave Fevre

Nationality: English
A football medicine legend, who worked for Manchester United when they won the Treble, as well as for Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Rugby League. Spoke to TGG about his career in 2019. Joined Chelsea after their restructure at the start of the 2022/23 season.
SPORTS THERAPIST
Stu Sullivan

Nationality: English
With Chelsea since 2004. Worked with England at 2010 World Cup.
ANALYSIS
DATA AND ANALYSIS LEAD
Matt Hallam
Nationality: English
Keeps a low profile but has become an important figure at the club. Started as an intern in 2011, having previously completed a psychology degree at Loughborough. Then developed a scouting database for the Blues. Promoted to current role in January 2023 by Chairman Todd Boehly.
HEAD OF FIRST-TEAM ANALYSIS
James Melbourne

Nationality: English
With the club since 2005, having previously worked for Prozone.
MATCH ANALYST
Christy Fenwick
Nationality: English
Joined Chelsea in December 2007 from Wolves. Has also worked for Aston Villa.
PERFORMANCE ANALYST
Paul Quilter

Nationality: English
Has been in post since August 2016, having join Chelsea as an intern in 2011.
ASSISTANT PERFORMANCE ANALYST
Tom King

Nationality: English
Background in coaching. Has been with Chelsea since 2015.
DATA SCIENCE
SENIOR DATA ANALYST
Thomas Jackson
Nationality: English
Joined in April 2018, having previously worked in the commercial sector.
DATA SCIENTIST
Federico Bettuzzi
Nationality: Italian
Previously worked in retail analytics for RI in Richmond, Surrey. Joined Chelsea in June 2019.
DATA SCIENTIST
Chris Searle
Nationality: English
Joined the club in July 2016. Mainly deals with data from the sports science department.
OTHER
LOAN TECHNICAL COACH
Carlo Cudicini

Nationality: Italian
Chelsea's first-choice keeper until arrival of Petr Cech in 2004/5. Appointed assistant when Antonio Conte arrived at the club. Switched to loan player technical coach in the summer of 2019.