Official: Chelsea appoint Claude Makélélé as “technical mentor to young players”

Claude Makélélé today became the latest ex-Blue to return to the club, with Chelsea confirming the appointment of the 46-year-old as the new “technical mentor to our young players”. He joins fellow former players Petr Čech, Jody Morris, and of course Frank Lampard in returning to West London this summer and hopefully laying the foundations for a homegrown (yet just as successful as before) future.

Makélélé was only at Chelsea for five seasons, but did appear in over 200 games, and he most often played the most crucial role in midfield (much like a certain N’Golo Kanté does these days). Maka was in fact so uniquely amazing at this, that his position and role became known at “The Makélélé Role”. It’s not often you get something named after you!

“I am very happy to come back home. This club gave me a lot and now I want to give back and help the young Chelsea players dreaming of a career in football.

“I want to use all my experience to help them become professionals in every aspect and I am looking forward to getting started.”

-Claude Makélélé; Source: Chelsea FC

Makélélé will spend most of his time working with the younger players and those out of loan. Combined with the likes of Paulo Ferreira and Christophe Lollichon, that department looks to be in safe hands.

Welcome back, Maka!