Chelsea goalkeeping coach Hilario resigns, set to join Thomas Tuchel's England staff

20 November 2024Last Update :
Chelsea goalkeeping coach Hilario resigns, set to join Thomas Tuchel's England staff

Chelsea goalkeeping coach Hilario has resigned from his position to become part of Thomas Tuchel’s backroom staff with England.

Hilario has decided to leave Stamford Bridge after 16 years working at the club in order to become the head goalkeeping coach with England when Tuchel officially starts work on January 1.

Chelsea will not look to find a replacement as they still have goalkeeping coach Michele De Bernardin and former Chelsea ‘keeper Willy Caballero as part of Enzo Maresca’s staff. The club also have James Russell, who is first-team assistant goalkeeping coach and head of academy goalkeeping, plus Chelsea’s head of goalkeeping Ben Roberts.

Hilario’s decision to leave for England has been amicable and follows that of Chelsea’s former head of performance analysis James Melbourne.

Chelsea signed Hilario from Portuguese club Nacional on a free transfer in 2006 to be a back-up keeper. He stayed until 2014, making just 39 appearances for the senior side in all competitions.

The 49-year-old returned to the club as an assistant goalkeeping coach under Antonio Conte two years later and has had a coaching role at Chelsea ever since. This included working under Tuchel when he was in charge of Chelsea between January 2021 and September 2023.

Tuchel was appointed Gareth Southgate’s England successor in October on a contract until 2025.

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