- Hilario joins ex-Blues staffers Anthony Barry and James Melbourne in the England line-up
- The goalkeeper coach played 39 times for Chelsea between 2006 and 2014
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Chelsea’s goalkeeping coach Hilario has resigned from the Blues following an approach from Thomas Tuchel to join his England team.
Stamford Bridge sources have confirmed that the 49-year-old former shot-stopper has decided to leave. Tuchel will officially take over as Three Lions boss from January 1, 2025 on an 18-month contract.
Hilario will join the England backroom staff, which already includes assistant Anthony Barry, as well as James Melbourne, the head of performance who also resigned from Chelsea last month following Tuchel’s raid on his former club.
Hilario played 39 times for Chelsea between 2006 and 2014. The Portuguese with one cap for his country joined the coaching staff after his retirement and served under successive managers including Tuchel.
Chelsea is already well stocked in the field of goalkeeper coaches. 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 Gareth Southgate’s permanent successor on Wednesday, signing an 18-month contract that will take him until the end of the 2026 World Cup.
Hilario has left his role as Chelsea’s goalkeeping coach to join England
The move came after an approach by Thomas Tuchel, who will become manager on January 1
The England backroom staff already includes assistant Anthony Barry, who previously worked 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 games at the helm in March.
His arrival comes after a string of impressive results under outgoing interim Lee Carsley, who led England to five wins in his six games in charge.
During the recent international break, the Three Lions defeated Greece 3-0 and Ireland 5-0 in crucial Nations League matches, gaining promotion to the tournament’s top divisions.
However, Tuchel’s main focus will be securing a first major trophy in 60 years at the 2026 World Cup after predecessor Southgate fell short in four competitions.