Tottenham Hotspur fitness coach Gian Piero Ventrone has died, the club have announced.
Reports in Italy have suggested that the 61-year-old former Juventus coach, who worked with Antonio Conte when he was a player there, died suddenly from acute leukaemia.
The club said in a statement on Thursday morning: "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."
Ventrone's family announced on his Instagram page: "For anyone who would like to give Dad a last goodbye, the Burning Chamber will be set up at the Fatebenefratelli Napoli Hospital (Via Alessandro Manzoni 220) from today until Saturday from 8.30am to 6.30pm. The funeral will be held at the church of San Luigi Gonzaga at 3pm on Sunday October 9 in Via Petrarca, 115 NA. We embrace you all in a big hug, Cinzia, Ivan and Martina."
Son Heung-min was close to the fitness coach and gave him a long hug by the side of the pitch after his hat-trick against Leicester last month.
"I have a really, really good relationship with Gian Piero. So obviously his English is not perfect, sometimes he is coming with his phone and translating into English from Italian," said the South Korean star. "It means a lot. Not as football-wise, I think life-wise he gives me so much advice, which I am really grateful.
"He has been so helpful, giving me always a big hug in tough times and even great times he has always been next to me and every staff. Even today before we left the training ground, the hotel, we had a couple of minutes of having a nice conversation which made me really comfortable and really grateful."
In South Korea, during the club's pre-season tour, wing-back Matt Doherty had said: “It’s all love for Gian Piero, actually. Normally when you have a fitness coach like that who is running you ragged you start to not like him but that’s not the case. We all absolutely love him. We’ve got so much respect for him that we do whatever he tells us to."
Midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg added: "We love him. He’s a great guy with great experience. They put us through some great work and we know we will improve and it’s fantastic. It’s nice to work hard."
Ryan Sessegnon said of Ventrone: "He’s good. Obviously, he’s very good. But he’s a killer — seriously. Very intense. The more physical players, where he knows he can push you, he will be on you."
Spurs' chief financial officer Todd Kline said after the news was confirmed: "Beyond sad news. GPV was a force of nature who made a positive impact on everyone he met. I will miss our conversations on the road and his contagious positive attitude. Just a phenomenal human. My thoughts are with his family and friends."
Conte's press conference on Thursday ahead of the Premier League match at Brighton has been cancelled in light of the tragic news.
