Chelsea Confirms Appointment of Ten Cate as Assistant Coach
Chelsea said Henk ten Cate joined the soccer club as assistant first-team coach, a day after it reached agreement with AFC Ajax NV to recruit the Dutchman.
The appointment, which was confirmed on Chelsea Web site today, strengthens the clubs coaching staff under new head coach Avram Grant. Steve Clarke is also employed as an assistant.
Ten Cate, 52, will organize coaching, while Grant retains an input into team selection and tactics, the Sun reported on Oct. 4. Grant, originally appointed as Chelseas director of football in July, replaced Jose Mourinho as manager on Sept. 20.
Ten Cate joined Ajax in 2006 from Barcelona, where he was the assistant to countryman Frank Rijkaard. He coached Ajax to second in the Dutch league last season, missing out to PSV Eindhoven for the title on goal difference.
The Amsterdam club this season lost in qualifying for the Champions League group stage and was ousted last week in the first round of Europe second-tier UEFA Cup by Dinamo Zagreb. It also failed in the Champions League preliminaries last season.
Chelsea leads its group in Europe top club competition following a 2-1 win at Valencia on Oct. 3. It beat Bolton 1-0 four days later for its first Premier League success under Grant.
Tags: ajax, appointment, assistant coach, avram grant, cate, champion, champions league, chelsea, dutch league, dutchman, europe, frank rijkaard, henk, premier league, steve clarke, team coach, ten cate