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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Marc Mayo

Eric Dier sends touching gift to family of late Tottenham coach Gian Piero Ventrone

Tottenham defender Eric Dier sent the England shirt he wore after winning his place back in the national side to the family of the late fitness coach, Gian Piero Ventrone.

The north London club was hit by the passing of Ventrone, 61, last month after a short battle with illness.

In the aftermath, Spurs paid several tributes to the Italian including Harry Kane dedicating his winning goal against Brighton to the man dubbed ‘Marine’ as well as a permanent tribute at the Hotspur Way training ground.

On Friday, Ventrone’s son, Ivan, posted a touching gift sent by Dier, 28, to the coach’s family.

The player signed the England shirt he wore against Italy in September, his first Three Lions appearance in 18 months and one he attributed to the late Tottenham fitness coach.

“To the Ventrone family,” he wrote on the shirt.

“Gian Piero helped me to wear this shirt again. I will carry his values every day with me. Best wishes, Eric.”

Eric Dier’s heartfelt message to the Ventrone family (Ivan Ventrone/Instagram)

Ivan Ventrone posted an image of the shirt on his Instagram account.

“I’ll forever be your supporter, just as my dad did,” he captioned the post.

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