Chelsea ‘rehires physiotherapist Jose Calvarro just seven months after his Todd Boehly forced departure left several players unhappy – some believed the club’s medical staff generally helped with the Blues’ injury crisis and poor season’
- Physio Jose Calvarro has returned seven months after leaving Chelsea
- The Spaniard spent more than six years with Cobham before an overhaul meant his departure
- Players forced Chelsea to reverse their decision and welcome Calvarro back
Chelsea have re-hired physio Jose Calvarro after a campaign of older players, seven months after the Spaniard was sacked during changes at Stamford Bridge.
In September, Calvarro left the Blues after six years at the club, as part of a backroom staffing review amid Todd Boehly’s new ownership of the club – and the expulsion of Thomas Tuchel as manager.
But pressure from the player forced Boehly and the club to accept that letting Calvarro go was a mistake, and the 43-year-old is now back at the club. as reported by the Evening Standard.
Calvarro, who has been with Chelsea since 2016, left last autumn alongside two long-serving medical chiefs, Thierry Laurent and Paco Biosca, while physios Jason Palmer and Jon Fearn both left the club later in 2022 after ten years of service.
Private physiotherapy company Remedy spearheaded the big changes, with Fearghal Kerin and Dave Fevre both brought into Cobham’s fold. Further changes are expected.
Jose Calvarro (left) has returned to Chelsea for seven months after losing his club physio job
The Blues have been hit by an injury crisis, including long-term problems for Reece James
The stars believed the turmoil in the club’s medical department was part of the cause of Chelsea’s injury crisis ahead of the World Cup, sidelined some senior players such as N’Golo Kante and Reece James for months afterwards.
This also had a knock-on effect on performance, with Chelsea languishing in 11th place in the Premier League.
Currently, James, Kai Havertz, Marc Cucurella, Mason Mount and Kalidou Koulibaly are among those sidelined with injuries.
Calvarro joined Italian Serie B side Como after leaving Cobham, where former Blues midfielder Cesc Fabregas plays, and Dennis Wise, a former Chelsea captain, is president.
Frank Lampard said Chelsea fans should be concerned about the club’s demise this season
In January, the Spaniard returned to Chelsea as a consultant for one day a week, working with the team every Sunday due to his commitments at Como.
Boehly and Clearlake Capital took control of Chelsea last year, working through Tuchel and Graham Potter as managers, and currently relying on interim boss Frank Lampard until the end of the current campaign.
Following Chelsea’s latest defeat, a 2-0 defeat to Brentford, Lampard said Blues fans should be concerned about the club’s demise this season as the team was booed by supporters who have seen two and a half decades of success with the West. London club.
Lampard’s next challenge is an away trip to Arsenal on Tuesday as their north London rivals attempt to reverse a four-match winless streak.