Tottenham will pay emotional tribute to late fitness coach Gian Piero Ventrone ahead of tomorrow’s game at Brighton.
The visiting players will warm-up in T-shirts with the slogan ‘Always in our hearts — Gian Piero’ in both English and Italian and both sides will wear black armbands. There will be a minute’s applause before kick-off.
Further tributes are planned for next Wednesday’s home Champions League clash against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Ventrone passed away from acute leukaemia following a sudden illness, leaving several members of the Spurs squad and head coach Antonio Conte devastated. He was 61.
Several players yesterday paid tribute to Ventrone, nicknamed ‘the Marine’ in his homeland after serving in the Italian navy and his gruelling fitness drills, but known as ‘Prof’ at Spurs.
Heung-min Son, who was particularly close to Ventrone, wrote on Instagram: “The world has lost a truly special person. Gian Piero, you helped me get through the hardest times, and together we celebrated some incredible memories. I cannot put in enough words my gratitude to you, and how much I owe to you. We will miss you so, so much. Thank you for everything my friend. I am sending all of my love to you and all of your family.”
Harry Kane wrote on Twitter: “A truly remarkable man. I’m devastated by the passing of our coach Gian Piero. My love and strength is with his family at this time. His words and wisdom will live on with me for the rest of my life and I’m just grateful I had the opportunity to spend time with him. RIP Prof.”
A truly remarkable man. I’m devastated by the passing of our coach Gian Piero. My love and strength is with his family at this time. His words and wisdom will live on with me for the rest of my life and I’m just grateful I had the opportunity to spend time with him. RIP Prof 💙💙 pic.twitter.com/AK1kgkruIH
— Harry Kane (@HKane) October 6, 2022
Summer signing Richarlison tweeted: “Since I arrived at Tottenham, Gian has been a huge inspiration to me. Today we woke up to the terrible news of his passing and we are all devastated. We will continue to play for you, my friend, who taught us to never give up! Thank you so much and rest in peace!”
Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport last night released an interview with Ventrone conducted a week ago, focusing on his methods and, specifically, the prevention of muscle injuries. In it, he described his friend Conte’s philosophy as a “sort of gospel”. Ventrone said: “The training sessions? At Tottenham they are carried out at match pace. Our sessions are very long: an hour and a half, almost two, instead of the usual 50 minutes.
“Conte has developed a culture and work methodology that does not differ from mine, based on the athlete’s adaptability to suffering, on his ability not to give up easily to fatigue. For Conte this philosophy has become a sort of gospel. We have had very few problems with muscle overload.”
