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 EXECUTIVES
DIRECTOR
Marina Granovskaia
Nationality: Russian
The Russian has worked for owner Roman Abramovich since 1997, when she started at his former oil company, Sibneft. With Chelsea since Abramovich bought the club in 2003. On the board since June 2013 and now the dominant force on the football side of the business.
TECHNICAL AND PERFORMANCE ADVISOR
Petr Cech
Nationality: Czech
Won 13 trophies during 11 years as a Chelsea player. Retired after four years at Arsenal and returned to Stamford Bridge totake up this new role in June 2019. Will advise on "all football and performance matters".
COACHING
MANAGER
Thomas Tuchel
Nationality: German
Arrived at Stamford Bridge in January 2021 after two-and-a-half years with PSG. First German to manage Chelsea. Guided PSG to four major honours and Champions League final. Prior to that, he led Mainz into the Europa League and won the German Cup with Borussia Dortmund.
ASSISTANT
Arno Michels
Nationality: German
The German is Tuchel's right-hand man, having worked alongside him at Mainz, Borussia Dortmund and PSG. The duo first met on a coaching course.
ASSISTANT
Zsolt Low
Nationality: Hungarian
Played under Tuchel at Mainz and then worked with him at PSG. Previously coached at Red Bull Salzburg and Leipzig.
FIRST-TEAM COACH
Anthony Barry
Nationality: English
Joined from Wigan in August 2020, having been with the Latics for three years. Already knew Lampard from their Pro Licence course with the English FA. Was offered managers job at Fleetwood after Tuchel's arrival, but decided to stay on.
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 & MEDICAL
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.
MEDICAL DIRECTOR
Paco Biosca
Nationality: Spanish
Joined Chelsea in July 2011 from Shakhtar Donetsk. Prior to this the Catalan worked as a specialist doctor in orthopaedic surgery at Arnau Vilanova Hospital in Lleida, Spain.
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.
HEAD PHYSIO
Steve Hughes
Nationality: Australian
Has been with Chelsea since 2001, having previously worked in the NHS.
SPORTS THERAPIST
Stu Sullivan
Nationality: English
With Chelsea since 2004. Worked with England at 2010 World Cup.
PHYSIO
Jon Fearn
Nationality: English
Hit the headlines when he and club doctor Eva Carneiro were branded 'naive' by Jose Mourinho for running on to treat Eden Hazard in August 2015. With Chelsea since 2010.
ANALYSIS
VIDEO ANALYST
Benjamin Weber
Nationality: German
Long-time associate of Tuchel's, having worked with him at Mainz, Dortmund and PSG before moving to Chelsea.
HEAD OF FIRST-TEAM ANALYSIS
James Melbourne
Nationality: English
With the club since 2005, having previously worked for Prozone.
LEAD RECRUITMENT & DATA ANALYST
Dan Pelchen
Nationality: Australian
Joined as a performance data analyst in July 2018 from AFL side Collingwood. Promoted to current role a year later.
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.
HEAD OF RESEARCH & INNOVATION
Ben Smith
Nationality: English
His background is as an analyst (with Fulham and England) and he joined Chelsea in January 2007. His role involves "technology, data, and systems, with an addition of strategic projects, research and innovation."
