Sport Features

CHELSEA’S hunt for their fourth manager since Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali took over the club is seemingly coming to a close.Mauricio Pochettino is expected to be named the new Blues boss this week.
Pochettino’s trusted team of advisors
Mauricio Pochettino has a trusted backroom staff who are likely to join him at ChelseaCredit: AFP
The Argentinian, 51, will take over from interim boss Frank Lampard, who is likely to continue until the end of the season.
Former PSG boss Poch will inherit a bloated squad full of superstars, after the Blues splurged over £600million across two transfer windows.
To encourage harmony, he will bring with him his trusted backroom staff.
These include his sports scientist son and an ex Olympic champion.
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Jesus Perez, Assistant Manager
Spaniard Perez, 51, is held in such high-regard by the former Tottenham manager he has described him as an “extension of myself.”
They started their Premier League odyssey at Southampton, a job which the assistant convinced his manager to take despite speaking very little English at the time.
But you have to go back as far as 2010 when their paths first crossed at Espanyol.
Perez was brought into the club by sporting director Ramon Planes, before he worked alongside Poch on the basis of being the only coach at the LaLiga side who knew how to use prototype match analysis software.
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Pochettino has described assistant Jesus Perez as an ‘extension of himself’Credit: EPA
Obsessed with fitness, he is widely regarded as helping both Southampton and Tottenham become one of the fittest teams in the country.
His fitness plan is believed to have aided the physical development of Harry Kane.
Miguel D’Agostino, Assistant Coach
When Pochettino played at Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina under Marcelo Bielsa, he formed a close friendship with fellow defender D’Agostino.
The bruising centre back’s distinguished career saw him play in Chile, Ecuador, France, Mexico and Spain, before he hung up his boots in 2003.
After he retired, D’Agostino, 51, tried his hand at coaching and worked at Canet-en-Rousillon, Brest and Dubai CSC.
In 2009, Pochettino invited his friend to Espanyol, where he began scouting for the club.
Soon, he became a full-time member of the coaching staff – filming training sessions and providing analysis.
However, D’Agostino almost drowned when he was thrown overboard on a rafting trip with Pochettino in Argentina, where they were also joined by Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy.
Coach Miguel D’Agostino played with Pochettino at Newell’s Old BoysCredit: Getty – Contributor
Toni Jimenez, Goalkeeper Coach
Jimenez, 52, played between the sticks for Espanyol and then Atletico Madrid, after starting his career at Barcelona.
He was also capped three times for Spain.
But his international career is best remembered for appearing at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, where he was picked ahead of Valencia legend Santiago Canizares.
The shotstopper, who featured in a team that had the likes of Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique in the first eleven, would win a gold medal with his country.
When he retired from football, Jimenez worked as a director at Espanyol before completing his coaching badges alongside Pochettino.
France World Cup winner Hugo Lloris has been complimentary about the pair’s coaching techniques in the past.
“When I first met Toni and Mauricio, I started spending more time in the gym and looking after my body, developing more muscle and improving my technique,” Lloris revealed.
“I spend a lot of time with him and with Toni looking at videos and they showed me what they expected from me. 
“The first few weeks, you wonder if what they are trying to do will work but after you start to notice at training and later in the game and then you think, ‘Okay, maybe they’re right’.”
Hugo Lloris credited Pochettino and goalkeeping coach Toni Jimenez with improving his gameCredit: Getty – Contributor
Sebastiano Pochettino, Sports Scientist and Fitness Coach
Despite being Poch’s son, there’s is no sentiment with appointing Sebastiano.
The eldest of his clan at 28, he began working with his dad at Tottenham in 2016 as a sports scientist and fitness coach.
Before his appointment he received a first class honours degree from Southampton Solent University in Applied Sports Science.
He moved with his father to PSG, where he completed a Masters in the ‘Integrative Biology of the Adaptations to Exercise for Health and Performance’ at Paris-Saclay University.
English, French and Spanish speaking, Sebastiano specialises in injury prevention and strength and conditioning training.
Back in 2017, Poch denied nepotism when it came to his son and insisted he could go on to work for another manager.
Sports scientist Sebastiano Pochettino was hired by his dad in 2016 at SpursCredit: Getty – Contributor
Karina Pochettino, Wife
The person who Poch trusts the most is wife, Karina.
They met at a Rosario nightclub called Arrow in 1991, and it was love at first sight.
Three years later the pair walked down the aisle as his career with Newell’s Old Boys was taking off.
She lives a very private life and is very rarely seen in football circles.
However, Karina, 49, was said to be instrumental in convincing her husband to manage on our shores.

Poch wobbled on the idea when Southampton offered him the post in 2013 because of his lack of English.
That’s when Karina stepped in and said he should give it shot. The rest is history.
Karina Pochettino installed faith in her husband when he was unsure about moving to SouthamptonCredit: AFP More

AS characters go, fewer are bigger than ‘Big Sam’.Sam Allardyce, 68, has taken over the reins at Leeds United, after the faltering Yorkshire club made the decision to sack Javi Gracia.
Sam Allardyce has been tasked with saving Leeds United from relegation
A dismal run of results, culminating in a 4-1 defeat to fellow strugglers Bournemouth has left The Whites flirting with relegation.
But if anyone can handle the Elland Road pressure cooker it’s the former England boss.
A no-nonsense player that translated that approach to his management style, Allardyce won’t suffer any fools.
His roots growing up in Dudley, West Midlands shaped him for his career ahead.
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Early life
Sam grew up in a council house with police sergeant dad Robert, mum Mary who worked part-time making golf bags and older siblings Mary and Robert.
He said: “I was a mistake apparently after mum had a rare night out with dad.”
His dad taught him the meaning of discipline, which he has preached throughout his career.
Sam said: “My old man always said you only get what you graft for. It doesn’t matter how intelligent you are, how much education you’ve got, you’ll only get there on work rate.
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“My dad was a policeman for 25 years. Any problems on our estate were always sorted out by Bob Allardyce. If we got into any trouble we’d be in trouble with my old man.”
Football was his calling
After failing to impress on trial for Aston Villa, Allardyce was scouted by Bolton Wanderers at 15.
By 17 he had signed his first professional contract worth £14-per-week.
And it wasn’t just football he was tasked with mastering. He was also made to sweep the terraces.
He said: “Those menial tasks were part of a young pro’s education which we all accepted, but they don’t do it today because of objections from the Professional Footballer’s Association, which was extremely short-sighted.
“The PFA argued it was slave labour, but it taught kids discipline and make them appreciate it more when they became fully-fledged pros rather than getting it all the moment they signed.”
To supplement his income, 6ft3in Sam would take on labouring jobs in the summer, including doing up houses.
“I would go in and knock down walls and help out,” he said.
Allardyce, seen playing for Coventry City, was a no-nonsense defenderCredit: Rex Features
Standing at the back, Allardyce gets a dance lesson to keep fitCredit: Daily Mail
“Right as a very young kid from when I went to Bolton, I would always work in the summer anyway.
“I went cutting the grass in the parks, I went working in laboratories making aspirins, because you’d get paid more than you were earning as a footballer.”
No-nonsense
As a player, Allardyce wasn’t afraid to dish out the odd reducer in his time.
His nickname Super Sam Bionic Man came from the fact for every bruising encounter he would end up unscathed.
He was a Bolton hero in 1978, when he helped Wanderers achieve promotion to the top tier.
It was during this period he met his wife Lynne, who he has been married to for 49 years.
He said: “I met Lynne and I thought I’m not going to wait years, I’m going to get married and have kids and I’ll have to have my own house.
“I’ll have to graft for it. If I don’t make it as a footballer I’ve had experiences in-between that might help me.”
In the second half of his career he played for Sunderland, Millwall, Coventry, Huddersfield and Preston plus US club Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Managing became a natural fit when he took on his first coaching job with Limerick in 1991.
At Bolton Wanderers Allardyce was a hero – earning promotion in 1978Credit: Mark Leech
Allardyce with wife of 49 years, LynnCredit: Getty – Contributor
But he wouldn’t be able to lean on a star signing to rescue the ailing Irish club. Luckily, the chairman was a priest.
He revealed: “When we were short of money for wages, the chairman, Father Joe Young, put out the word to his mates. He called in a few favours. Divine intervention.”
Miracle worker
If God was his last port of call at Limerick, Allardyce must have called for the Holy Father at Notts County and Bolton more than once.
Working with a limited budget, he achieved promotions with both clubs.
Perhaps his greatest achievement was taking un-fancied Bolton into the Uefa Cup.
He was offered the Manchester City job, before the offer was withdrawn after Thaksin Shinawatra’s take over of the club was accepted.
Weeks later, Newcastle United hired him. It was to be short-lived.
He was sacked after eight months, following a dismal run of form.
Blackburn mediocrity followed, until he achieved Premier League promotion with West Ham, where he was unloved for his ‘brand of football’.
At Sunderland next, he would gain revenge on Mike Ashley, who fired him at the Toon.
Brought in to save the club from relegation, just like the task ahead of him at Leeds, he achieved the unthinkable in 2015.
Against the odds, Allardyce got Bolton into the Uefa CupCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Unique relationships with stars such as Jay-Jay Okocha allowed Big Sam to show his man-management skillsCredit: Simon Wilkinson
A 3-0 defeat of Everton ensured the club’s safety. Better still, Ashley and Newcastle were relegated. His stock couldn’t have been higher.
England call
With the FA adopting a different approach following a dismal Euro 2016 campaign under Roy Hodgson, Allardyce was chosen as the next Three Lions manager on a two-year contract.
But, as the result of a newspaper sting, he would last just 67 days in the job.
He was filmed offering advice on how to get around rules on player transfers.
It was also alleged that he used his role to negotiate a deal worth £400,000 to represent a Far East firm.
Despite that, social media users focused on something entirely different.
Sat on the table, as he polished off a Chinese meal, was what looked like a pint of wine. It went viral.
One fan on Twitter labelled him a “National hero” for his drinking prowess… although it was never confirmed to be wine and was more likely a beer.
Somehow, in the face of controversy, Allardyce had won even more fans.
Trending on social media was something Allardyce was, of course, used to at that point.
England sacked Allardyce after just 67 days in charge following a newspaper stingCredit: PA

Allardyce isn’t afraid to show off his dance moves
On Sky’s A League of their Own Allardyce danced along to Gangnam Style
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Months prior, after saving the Mackems from Premier League demotion, he was filmed dancing to Rihanna on holiday in Marbella.
Also, just before he took on the England job, he showed he was game for a laugh on Sky’s A League of their Own TV show.
Bounding onto the stage opposite Jamie Redknapp, Andrew Flintoff, James Corden, Jack Whitehall and David Walliams – Allardyce showed off his nifty footwork by recreating the dance routing for Gangnam Style.
In recent years, he’s managed Crystal Palace, Everton and West Brom.
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His last job with the Baggies didn’t end well, with him unable to achieve to pull a rabbit out of a hat to ensure their Premier League safety in 2021.
Leeds fans will be hoping history doesn’t repeat itself. More