Ex-assistant Filipe Coelho explains rejecting Chelsea to stay at Strasbourg

Strasbourg assistant coach Filipe Coelho says he turned down a move to Chelsea earlier this year, opting to remain at the Stade de la Meinau and work under new head coach Gary O'Neil. The decision followed Liam Rosenior’s departure to take charge at Stamford Bridge as part of a BlueCo reshuffle that saw several backroom staff head to London.

Coelho, who had previously managed Chelsea's Under-21s and left West London in July to join Strasbourg, cited family reasons for staying. "I was close to going to Chelsea when Liam left and accompanying him in London, but family is a very important pillar and it didn’t make sense to take my family away from a good adaptation to life in France to return to London [at that point].

I arrived five months ago, and I want to keep going," he said. He believes the choice is serving him well professionally, allowing him to learn from different coaches. "I feel that the moment to be a head coach will come.

France, Strasbourg

filipe coelho, strasbourg, chelsea, gary o'neil, liam rosenior, blueco, stade meinau, under-21s, family, london