‘We are devastated’: Tottenham fitness coach Gian Piero Ventrone dies aged 61

Tottenham are struggling to accept the death of Gian Piero Ventrone, their physical trainer. The 61-year-old Neopolitan, nicknamed “The Marine” because of his difficult sessions, suffered from leukemia.

“We are devastated to announce that Gian Piero Ventrone has passed away,” Tottenham said on Thursday morning. “As lovable off the pitch as he was demanding, Gian Piero has quickly become a hugely popular figure with players and staff alike. He will be greatly missed by everyone at the club and our thoughts are with his family and friends. at this incredibly sad time.”

Ventrone joined Spurs last November under Antonio Conte’s coaching staff and he has been credited with helping to drastically improve the players’ fitness. His most famous moment at the club came during the Seoul pre-season tour when he pushed the team through a brutal session in 30°C heatleaving many of them to collapse on the turf and some – including Harry Kane – to vomit.

Players could see the importance of his work, their respect for him was huge and it was evident when Son Heung-min celebrated with him after scoring a hat-trick against Leicester on September 17. That Ventrone had been in the dugout so recently illustrates how suddenly he was taken away.

“I have a very, very good relationship with Gian Piero,” Son said. “His English is not perfect, sometimes he comes with his phone and translates into English from Italian. It means a lot. Not so footballingly speaking, I think in life he gives me so much advice, which I am really grateful he was so helpful, always giving me a big hug in hard times and even in good times he was always beside me and every staff member.

Conte canceled his Thursday afternoon press conference to preview Saturday’s game at Brighton as a mark of respect. He has known Ventrone for many years, having worked with him as a player at Juventus; Ventrone was brought in by then-manager Marcello Lippi in 1994 and was instrumental in forming the team that won the Champions League in 1996. Conte played for Juventus between 1991 and 2004 .

Ventrone spent two spells at Juventus – from 1994 to 1999 and from 2001 to 2004. He was a member of Lippi’s staff when Italy won the World Cup in 2006. He then worked as an assistant manager at Ajaccio in France before returning to physical training. in Catania in Italy and Jiangsu Suning and Guangzhou Evergrande in China. Then came the move to Spurs.

Ventrone earned his ‘Marine’ nickname at Juventus, where he played Ride of the Valkyries off the speakers as his players raced. He installed a bell of shame to be rung by the first to pick up. He recited motivational phrases such as “winning belongs to the strong” and “work today to race tomorrow”.

On Thursday, Kane described Ventrone as a ‘truly remarkable man’ and wrote on social media: ‘His words and his wisdom will live with me for the rest of my life and I am just grateful to have had the opportunity to pass time with him. Rest in peace Prof.”

Kane’s Spurs striker Richarlison said Ventrone had been a “huge inspiration” and helped him “much more than he can imagine”. The Brazilian added: “We will keep playing for you, my friend, who taught us never to give up!”

Juventus have described Ventrone, whose funeral will take place in Naples on Sunday, as “one of the club’s historic names at the turn of the century”. They added: “He used innovative fitness methods inspired by modern criteria, which led the way in Italy and abroad.

“We will always remember his attention to detail, his working philosophy and perhaps his greatest talent – the understanding that football and in particular the fundamental components of conditioning and athletics were gradually entering a new era. A new era that he partly helped to write Ciao, Gian Piero.