Following the success of his reserve side, who became national champions in 2011, reserve coach Steve Holland stepped up to work with the senior squad that summer, becoming an assistant first team coach.
First as a member of Andre Villas-Boas's backroom staff, then under
Roberto Di Matteo, Rafael Benitez and continuing with Jose Mourinho,
Steve is an important link between the first team and Academy, as well
as playing a key role on the training field. His work was rewarded at
the end of the 2011/12 as the players lifted the FA Cup and Champions
League trophy, and then the Europa League trophy in 2013.
In September 2013 he assisted England Under-21 head coach Gareth
Southgate in preparations for two international games at that level. At
the end of the month it was announced he would stay in the role for the
whole of the qualification campaign for the 2015 European Under-21
Championships.
Steve was appointed as Chelsea reserve team manager in August 2009,
following five months spent as Stoke City's Academy director.
The then 39-year-old joined us with a wealth of experience in player
development, responsible for bringing through a number of household
names during nearly 17 years with Crewe Alexandra - Danny Murphy, Seth
Johnson and Dean Ashton among them.
During that time at Gresty Road, which began in 1992, Holland worked
under former Chelsea coach Dario Gradi, first as a youth coach and then
academy director before taking charge of first team duties at the
beginning of the 2007/08 season.
He left Crewe in late 2008 before taking the Stoke role in April
2009, arriving at Chelsea with a management and training style suitable
to what the club is trying to promote.
As a player, Steve was on the books at Derby County and then Bury,
but injury prevented a successful career and so he turned to coaching.
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