This week, Chelsea Football Club said goodbye to someone who’s been with the team for almost 20 years. Henrique Hilário, who joined in 2006, is officially stepping down from his long-time role. He’s been a constant presence, first as a player and then as a coach, through multiple changes in ownership and management.
Hilário played only 39 times over eight years as backup to Chelsea’s top goalkeepers, Petr Čech and Carlo Cudicini. After retiring in 2014, he stayed with the club as a goalkeeping coach, eventually becoming the first-team assistant under Antonio Conte in 2016. Frank Lampard later gave him full responsibility for the goalkeepers in 2019, and he’s held that role under every coach since then, including Thomas Tuchel.
Now, Hilário is set to join Tuchel at England, where he will start in January alongside former Chelsea staff members Anthony Barry and James Melbourne. Chelsea is not likely to replace him directly, and instead, Michele De Bernardin will take over the coaching duties, with Willy Caballero (another former Chelsea backup) joining the team as well. Ben Roberts, who came from Brighton with Graham Potter, is still with Chelsea in a global goalkeeping role.
It’s the end of an era for Hilário, and we wish him all the best in his new adventure with Tuchel. Hopefully, our paths will cross again in the future!
