Keen Chelsea supporters may have spotted a familiar face on the Portugal bench for their opening Euro 2024 clash with the Czech Republic.
Euro 2024 is underway as 24 teams aim to be the last nation standing in the tournament to be crowned the European champions.
Portugal are tipped as one of the favourites to win the competition, with a good run to the final on paper if things go to plan.
Head coach Roberto Martinez will be looking to replicate the nation’s latest success, which came back in 2016 – beating France in the final of the European Championships after extra time.
With another chance to create history, Portugal kickstart their campaign against the Czech Republic.
A few Chelsea fans may have spotted a familiar face on the bench though, with a former coach joining Martinez for the tournament.
Former Chelsea coach Anthony Barry spotted in Euro 2024 Portugal dugout
Anthony Barry is a former Chelsea coach who makes up part of the Portuguese national team staff, taking the role of assistant to head coach Martinez.
The 38-year-old moved to Stamford Bridge in 2020 under Frank Lampard, joining as his assistant from Wigan Athletic – which was his first coaching role after his playing career.
Barry stayed at Chelsea until 2023, when he was poached by Thomas Tuchel to join Bayern Munich for a fee worth £1million.
The former midfielder is still with the Bundesliga outfit, but during the international breaks, he finds time to work with national team setups.
That started in 2021 as part of the Republic of Ireland team, though he would move on and eventually join Portugal in 2023.
Barry will certainly be hopeful he can add to his honour list as a coach, which includes a UEFA Champions League.
Thomas Tuchel praise for Anthony Barry
With Tuchel’s determination to land Barry at Bayern Munich, costing a large fee in the process, it’s clear that there’s a huge amount of respect there.
The former Chelsea coach was full of praise for him, saying upon his arrival at Bayern in 2023: “He’s [Barry] arrived. I’m very happy.
“We really wanted to have him with us. He’s a great personality, passion and quality, whether it’s the details or set-piece situations. I’ve not seen such a level before.”
That was further emphasised in January 2024, when Tuchel told the press: “I think all teams that went far in tournaments in recent years were teams that dominated set pieces.
“Anthony, among others in the coaching staff, has quality at the highest level. When it comes to set pieces, it’s also about the desire and attitude of the team.
“The boys are doing that at a high level. We improved significantly in that aspect of the game and are on a good path.”
It seems as though Barry will be taking some of that expertise heading into the European Championships this summer.
The post The ex-Chelsea coach fans may have spotted in Portugal’s first Euro 2024 clash, Thomas Tuchel raved about him appeared first on HITC.