ISL franchise, Chennaiyin FC on Monday let go its old coach, Italian Marco Materazzi. On his place, they hired much better and experienced former Aston Villa manager John Gregory as their head coach.Gregory has taken over four decades of experience as a player as well as a coach. The 63-year-old former football player has six appearances as ‘full international’ for the England national team.
John Gregory started his coaching career at Portsmouth and then many times he switched between Plymouth Argyle and Wycombe Wanderers. And then came his most notable four-year stretch with Aston Villa in the English Premier League. Under his guidance, the club finished runners-up in the 2000 FA Cup after losing to Chelsea in the last ever FA Cup final at the Old Wembley Stadium.
Gregory left Aston Villa in 2002 and then was appointed as the head coach of Derby County and Queens Park Rangers.
On being appointed as the head coach of Chennaiyin FC Gregory said, “I am very excited to have joined Chennaiyin FC and would like to thank the club owners for believing in me and giving me this wonderful opportunity. Chennaiyin has been one of the most consistent teams in the ISL so far and I want to continue the great work done by Marco Materazzi in the first three seasons.”
Chennaiyin FC’s co-owner Vita Dani expressing her happiness said,”We are very happy to have appointed John as our head coach. He has immense experience at the very highest level of the game both as a player and coach and his vision and personality matches our club philosophy and ambition. We look forward to a great season under his guidance.”