Meet Chelsea's Backroom Staff. (Part 1)



Rafael Benitez - Interim first team manager

Rafael Benitez was appointed interim first team manager until the end of the season on November 21, 2012.

The 52-year-old two-time UEFA Manager of the Year arrived with outstanding pedigree.

He began his managerial career in his homeland, most notably at Valencia where he built a reputation as one of Europe's top coaches by winning the Spanish League twice and the UEFA Cup. He then spent six years at Liverpool and led them to their fifth European Cup and an FA Cup, before a short spell at Inter in Italy.

Benitez started his coaching career on the staff at Real Madrid and enjoyed notable success in charge of the equivalent of youth and reserve teams. He also worked as assistant to Vicente Del Bosque.



Steve Holland - Assistant first team coach

Following the success of his reserve side, who became national champions in 2011, reserve coach Steve Holland stepped up to work with the senior squad that summer, becoming an assistant first team coach.

First as a member of Andre Villas-Boas's backroom staff, and then under Roberto Di Matteo, Steve is an important link between the first team and Academy, as well as playing a key role on the training field. His work was rewarded at the end of the 2011/12 as the players lifted the FA Cup and European Cup. 



Eddie Newton - Assistant first team coach

Eddie Newton returned to Chelsea in March 2012 to support the backroom staff under Roberto Di Matteo.

He had previously worked as a coach with Di Matteo at MK Dons and West Bromwich Albion, and helped us recover our form in the season's closing stages, culminating in FA Cup success he had sampled 15 years earlier as a player, and the club's first ever Champions League success.

Newton first joined Chelsea as a 13-year-old and came through the ranks to make 214 appearances for the club. His debut came in 1992, scoring on what was the last game of the season.


Michael Emenalo - Technical director

Michael Emenalo previously worked in both the scouting and coaching departments before being promoted to his current role in July 2011.

He has been an important part of the first team management structure since his arrival in October 2007, and now supports the work of the first team manager, leading the club's international and domestic scouting network, and assists in driving the technical programmes of our Academy and international youth network.

He previously worked as both head of opposition scouting and assistant first team coach under Carlo Ancelotti, arriving at Chelsea when former manager Avram Grant called upon a trusted ex-player from his Maccabi Tel Aviv days.