Chelsea Goalkeeping Coach Hilario to Join England Staff

Goalkeeping coach Hilario, who earned a single cap for Portugal, has resigned from his position at Chelsea and is expected to be appointed to Thomas Tuchel’s England coaching team. Hilario’s tenure at Stamford Bridge spans 16 years across two separate periods, during which he served as both a player and a coach. Tuchel previously collaborated with the former goalkeeper during his time managing Chelsea. Tuchel is scheduled to commence his role as England manager on 1 January. It is understood that Hilario was open to a job-share arrangement, but Chelsea expressed dissatisfaction with that proposal. Martyn Margetson, England’s previous goalkeeping coach, departed alongside former manager Gareth Southgate after Euro 2024. Hilario joined the Premier League club from Portuguese outfit Nacional in 2006, making 39 appearances before retiring from playing in 2014. The 49-year-old returned to Chelsea in 2016 as an assistant goalkeeping coach under Antonio Conte and was subsequently promoted to goalkeeping coach by Maurizio Sarri. He remained a part of the staff under Tuchel, Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, and the current manager, Enzo Maresca. Tuchel, aged 51, was announced as Southgate’s successor on an 18-month contract in October. The German coach has been assigned the task of attempting to secure England’s first major trophy since 1966 at the 2026 World Cup.