English premier League football club, Tottenham hotspur has lost its fitness coach, Gian Piero Ventrone.
He died of Leukaemia at the age of 61 on Thursday.
Antonio Conte’s fitness guru, who first earned the nicknamed ‘The Marine’ in Italy due to his tough training regimes, joined Tottenham as the manager’s right-hand man in 2021.
After being taken ill, Ventrone was taken to the Fatebenefratelli hospital in Naples before suddenly passing away on Thursday, October 5. His funeral will be on Sunday at 3pm.
The club released the following statement on Thursday: ‘We are devastated to announce that fitness coach Gian Piero Ventrone has passed away.
‘The 61-year-old joined the Club in November, 2021, as part of Antonio Conte’s backroom staff, having previously held roles at Juventus, Catania, JS Suning, GZ Evergrande and AC Ajaccio.
‘As loveable off the pitch as he was demanding on it, Gian Piero quickly became a hugely popular figure with players and staff.
‘He will be greatly missed by everyone at the Club and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this impossibly sad time.’
