Chelsea legend Claude Makelele today returns to the club as a technical mentor to our young players.
Makelele will be based largely at our Cobham training ground, workingclosely with individual Academy players, tracking technical performances in both training and matches as they reach a critical pointin their professional development.
The 46-year-old will also work with Chelsea players out on loan, visiting them at their clubs and providing regular match feedback.
'His long and successful career on the field, added to his winning mentality and experience as a coach in recent years, make him the ideal person to pass on his expertise to our talented youngsters. He will be a valuable asset to both our Academy and first-team coaching staff.'
During his five years as a player with Chelsea, Makelele made 217 appearances as an influential holding midfielder, scoring twice. During that time he lifted two league titles, an FA Cup and two League Cups, as well as helping us to the 2008 Champions League final, which proved to be his last game for the club.
After seeing out his career at Paris Saint-Germain, he joined their coaching staff under Carlo Ancelotti before following former Chelsea coach Paul Clement to Swansea City as assistant manager. He most recently worked as manager of Belgian top-flight side Eupen, having also managed Bastia in 2014.
De_Dean
78
Since Chelsea can't sign new players, we have decided to sign our Legends back to the club... Cech, Lampard and now Makelele have already been signed..... Respect, Respect, Respect...
Xixxloly
49
Chelsea mangers are all former legends this is a new trend bring a former legend to the club and make him a manger [Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
Desmondeyum
48
Three Chelsea legends return to the club - Lampard -Cech -Makelele
Desmondeyum
41
Chelsea legend Claude Makelele today returns to the club as a technical mentor to our young players.
Nesaiknruy_Legend
27
Makelele working with the younger players is an excellent move. Club finally wised up by bringing back our legends who will be respected by our players in senior roles. Issue always was the players respects as we knew these players had the quality but just lacked someone to look up to and now they have 3 legends at the club to take pointers from. Crazy thing is I can see Ngolo Kante wanting to stay and learn from Makelele and theyll build a very close relationship being from the same country and having the same play styles. Makelele guiding Ngolo can only make him a even more elite player. Great move by the club..