Chelsea coach Steve Holland named England assistant

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 21 December 2016

England confirm Chelsea coach Steve Holland as their new assistant manager, with the role becoming permanent at the end of the 2016-17 Premier League season.

England have confirmed Chelsea coach Steve Holland as their new assistant manager.

The 46-year-old has worked alongside Gareth Southgate as part of the England Under-21 set-up since 2013 and also assisted the new Three Lions head coach during his interim spell in October and November.

Holland has initially been appointed on a part-time basis, and the contract will become permanent when he leaves his role with Chelsea at the end of the 2016-17 Premier League season.

"I am delighted to have Steve as my assistant manager. We have worked very closely for three years and I have the upmost respect for the way that he works, his professionalism and the detail of his preparation," Southgate told the FA's official website.

"Our aim at the start was to encourage a young England team to play in a certain style and to develop a winning mentality, and I think we certainly got a long way down the road to doing that with the U21s. The challenge with the seniors is a greater one but Steve's experience of working with elite players and coaches at Chelsea means he knows what a world-class team needs to look like.

"I'd like to thank Chelsea for allowing Steve to join up with us over the last three years. It's great that Steve is able to work with us on the March camp but getting him on a full-time basis is very important and I was more than prepared to wait until May for that to happen. If we want to be successful then we have to employ the best people and, for me, Steve is the best."

Southgate was appointed England's head coach on a four-year contract at the end of last month.