https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2022/03/04/
paulo-ferreira-departs-coaching-role
Paulo Ferreira departs coaching role
04 Mar 2022
Paulo Ferreira's 18-year association with Chelsea Football Club has come
to an end as he leaves his role of loan player technical coach.
https://i.imgur.com/46gyLbC.jpg
Our former defender had been working with our loan players since his own
playing career ended in 2013, alongside studying for his coaching badges
and acting as a club ambassador. Prior to that, he made 217 Chelsea
appearances over a nine-year period, winning 11 major honours in the
process including three Premier League titles, the Europa League and the
Champions League.
Posting on social media today, the 43-year-old wrote: 'I have decided to
move back to Portugal to be closer to my family and I would like to take
this opportunity to thank everyone at the club and the fans who during the
last 18 years made Stamford Bridge a second home for me.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Car4L13tC_x/
'I arrived in London in 2004 as a young man with big dreams and had the
opportunity to make most of them come true thanks to the incredible
players, managers and staff who helped me grow as a person and
professional. After my retirement in 2013 I took on a role in the Loan
Player Technical Department and I really appreciate the opportunity I was
given by the club to work alongside Eddie Newton, Carlo Cudicini and the
rest of the team in this fascinating project.
'I am now going to take some time off and then look at opportunities to
continue to work in the football industry closer to my wife and kids. Once
a blue, always a blue. Thank you all and hope to see you soon!'
As a player, Ferreira became a fan favourite at Stamford Bridge due to his
dedicated approach to the game and unswerving loyalty to the Blues. He
arrived in west London as a European champion in 2004, one of the stars of
Jose Mourinho's Porto side that had swept all before them.
In that first campaign in English football, alongside his former club-mate
and Portuguese national team colleague Ricardo Carvalho, he played his
part in winning the League Cup as well as our first league title in 50
years. That team success was built on a bedrock of defensive strength,
with a Premier League record of just 15 goals conceded that still stands
to this day.
More trophies followed over the coming years, with Ferreira's
dependability and versatility proving key attributes as he deputised at
left-back and even centre-half, as well as operating in his more familiar
right full-back position.
Fittingly for such an unassuming character, his standout individual
moments came as part of collective glories, such as shackling Cristiano
Ronaldo in the 2006/07 FA Cup final, the first to be played at the new
Wembley, or nullifying Gareth Bale in various clashes with Tottenham.
https://i.imgur.com/lCElY6L.jpg
Rising above Ronaldo during the 2007 FA Cup final win
Scoring the second of his two goals for the club in a League Cup win at
Blackburn in 2009 was also a highlight, the moment made extra special as
it came not long after he had returned from a six-month lay-off with a
cruciate ligament injury. Later that season, he played a crucially
disciplined defensive role in a win at Old Trafford that took us back to
the top of the table, a key result in our only club Double. He also
featured in the FA Cup semi-final win over Aston Villa.
Ferreira made the last of his 217 Chelsea appearances on the final day of
the 2012/13 season, after which team-mate Frank Lampard led tributes on
the pitch by labelling his retiring team-mate 'the best professional'. He
swiftly returned to Cobham, passing on his vast experience in a mentoring
and coaching role with our players out on loan.
https://i.imgur.com/5qJLN0h.jpg
Parading the Europa League trophy at his final game
After nine years as a player followed by nine years of service behind the
scenes, Ferreira now departs with our thanks and very best wishes.