Filipe Coelho has left his role as Chelsea Under-21s head coach for a position as assistant head coach at Ligue 1 club RC Strasbourg. He joins Liam Rosenior in France in a big move as a coach. Strasbourg is part of the BlueCo network, as the organization makes efforts to increase internal cooperation by promoting promising talent at associate clubs.
Impactful tenure at Cobham
Filipe Coelho, appointed in the summer of 2023, swiftly set out to affix his identity to Chelsea’s development side. His first season in London saw the Chelsea U21s come third in Premier League 2 as well as making the play-off quarter-finals. But the Portuguese coach’s greatest impact lies as a talent developer.
He played a huge part in the development of tho aforementioned Tyrique George, Ato Ampah, Kiano Dyer, Shumaira Mheuka, Genesis Antwi and Harrison Murray-Campbell who all provided cover for the first team last season 2024/25. Coelho favored high-pace football and tactical agility, harmonizing the academy’s ways with the demands of the elite.
Academy Technical Director Glenn van der Kraan also singled out Coelho for improving daily standards and creating a winning environment. Most at the club view his departure as a personal step up rather than a system loss.
McFarlane takes charge
Calum McFarlane has been promoted by Chelsea to replace him. The ex-Southampton academy coach boasts a good record in youth development and more modern thinking around tactics. Assistant Andy Ross and James Simmonds will work with him to maintain continuity.
Strasbourg, meanwhile – who came 7th in the Ligue 1 last campaign, also qualified for the UEFA Conference League – have been collecting names linked with Chelsea to their roster. The transition by Coelho is in line with BlueCo’s philosophy of shared philosophy and staff development between clubs.
It is a loss for Chelsea but the conveyor belt never stops spinning at Cobham.
As featured on Chelseanews.com
