This morning it was announced Tottenham’s fitness coach, Gian Piero Ventrone, has died at the age of 61 after suffering with acute leukaemia.
In a statement from the club, Spurs said, “The 61-year-old joined the club in November 2021, as part of Antonio Conte’s backroom staff, having previously held roles at Juventus, Catania, JS Suning, GZ Evergrande and AC Ajaccio.
“As loveable off the pitch as he was demanding on it, Gian Piero quickly became a hugely popular figure with players and staff.
“He will be greatly missed by everyone at the club and our thoughts are with his family and his friends at this impossibly sad time.”
The outstanding Italian coach joined the Lilywhites in November 2021, alongside Antonio Conte, Cristian Stellini, Gianluca Conte, Constantino Coratti and Stefano Bruno.
‘The Marine’ was a major part of Conte’s coaching staff as well as working with the Spurs boss whilst he was a player at Juventus.
Following the news, Conte’s press conference was understandably called off due to the strong connection between the pair.
Ventrone implemented his fitness methods around the world, with his greatest success coming with the Italian national side in 2006 working alongside Marcello Lippi.
Players at the club have already began to share their condolences online and sing the praises of Ventrone.
One player who had a particularly close connection to the fitness coach was Heung-Min Son. They shared a touching moment after Son netted a hattrick against Leicester that epitomised the love, not just the South Korean, but all the players had for Ventrone.
The funeral of Gian Piero Ventrone will take place on Sunday at the San Luigi Gonzaga, a church in Naples. Such was the impact of the incredible Italian; the church is bound to be full of those who knew him.
Conte described Ventrone to Daniel Levy as a ‘top physical coach’ and a ‘great person’ which is a feeling shared by all at the club. His influence will continue for years to come at Tottenham, as it has done everywhere he worked previously, both on and off the field.