Chelsea coach QUITS after 18 years at the club to take up England role as Thomas Tuchel continues raid on former team

Chelsea’s goalkeeping coach Hilario has handed in his resignation with the Blues after an approach by Thomas Tuchel to join his England set-up.

Stamford Bridge sources have confirmed that the 49-year-old former shot-stopper has decided to leave. Tuchel is due to officially take over as Three Lions boss as of January 1, 2025 on an 18-month contract.

Hilario is set to join England’s backroom staff which already includes assistant Anthony Barry and also James Melbourne, the head of performance who likewise resigned from Chelsea last month amid a Tuchel raid on his old club.

Hilario appeared 39 times for Chelsea between 2006 and 2014. The Portuguese with a single cap for his country then joined the coaching staff after retiring, serving under successive managers including Tuchel.

Chelsea are already well-stocked in the goalkeeping coach department. Michele De Bernardin arrived with Enzo Maresca from Leicester, while Willy Caballero is also his assistant and Ben Roberts is head of global goalkeeping.

The German manager was named as Gareth Southgate’s permanent successor on Wednesday, signing an 18-month contract which will take him to the end of the 2026 World Cup. 

The move came after an approach by Thomas Tuchel, who becomes manager on January 1

England’s backroom staff already includes assistant Anthony Barry who was previously at Chelsea

Tuchel worked with both Hilario and Melbourne during his time at the club, a period in which he led the side to the Champions League in 2021.

The new boss’s backroom staff is starting to take shape as he prepares for his first matches at the helm in March.

His arrival comes on the back of a string of impressive results under departing interim Lee Carsley, who led England to five wins in his six games in charge.

Over the recent international break, the Three Lions beat Greece 3-0 and Ireland 5-0 in vital Nations League fixtures which saw them get promoted to the top divisions of the tournament. 

Tuchel’s main focus, however, will be securing a first major trophy in 60 years at the 2026 World Cup after predecessor Southgate came up short in four competitions.