Steve Holland - Assistant first team coach

Following the success of his reserve side, who became national champions in 2011, reserve coach Steve Holland stepped up to work with the senior squad that summer, becoming an assistant first team coach.

First as a member of Andre Villas-Boas's backroom staff, and then under Roberto Di Matteo, Steve is an important link between the first team and Academy, as well as playing a key role on the training field. His work was rewarded at the end of the 2011/12 as the players lifted the FA Cup and European Cup. 

Steve was appointed as reserve team manager in August 2009, following five months spent as Stoke City's Academy director.

The then 39-year-old joined us with a wealth of experience in player development, responsible for bringing through a number of household names during nearly 17 years with Crewe Alexandra - Danny Murphy, Seth Johnson and Dean Ashton among them.

During that time at Gresty Road, which began in 1992, Holland worked under former Chelsea coach Dario Gradi, first as a youth coach and then Academy director before taking charge of first team duties at the beginning of the 2007/08 season.

He left Crewe in late 2008 before taking the Stoke role in April 2009, arriving at Chelsea with a management and training style suitable to what the club is trying to promote.

As a player, Steve was on the books at Derby County and then Bury, but injury prevented a successful career and so he turned to coaching.