Tottenham Hotspur have this morning announced the death of fitness coach, Gian Piero Ventrone.
Ventrone joined Spurs back in November 2021 as part of Antonio Conte’s backroom staff.
The Italian was the club’s fitness coach and had known Conte for decades, working with him previously at Juventus.
The 61-year-old’s methods of getting players into such great shape became legendary and earned him the nickname of ‘the Marine’.
Understandably, Conte’s press conference ahead of Brighton has been cancelled.
We are devastated to announce that fitness coach Gian Piero Ventrone has passed away.
He will be greatly missed by everyone at the Club and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this impossibly sad time.
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 6, 2022
Ventrone: A popular figure at Tottenham
Ventrone was a very well respected and liked figure at Tottenham with players always paying tribute to him.
Matt Doherty said: “It’s funny because normally when you have a fitness coach like that who is running you ragged you start to not like him – but we all absolutely love him.
“We’ve got so much respect for him that we do whatever he tells us to.”
After his hat-trick vs Leicester City, following a very tricky patch, Heung-min Son said: “He gives me so much advice, which I am really grateful.
“He has been so helpful, giving me always a big hug in tough times and even great times he has always been next to me and every staff.”
