Juventus posted an emotional tribute to their former fitness coach Gian Piero Ventrone, who sadly passed away earlier today.
The Italian fitness coach, who joined Antonio Conte’s staff at Tottenham last year, passed away this morning after a short and sudden illness at the age of 62. He was an important figure behind the scenes of Italian football, playing a key role in the transition to modern physical and athletic fitness in the changing world of the sport.
Ventrone spent nine years with Juventus, from 1994 to 1999 and 2001 to 2004, working alongside Marcello Lippi, where he earnt the nickname ‘the Marine’ for his fearsome but vital training methods. His work was key in building the fitness of a squad and he was widely respected by players and club staff alike.
The Italian fitness coach was part of the Azzurri staff for the 2006 World Cup and later spent time in France and China before heading to England to join up with Conte at Tottenham.
Below is Juventus’ touching tribute to Ventrone:
“Gone is one of the ‘historical’ names of Juve at the turn of the century. Gian Piero Ventrone left us at the age of just 62: he worked for many seasons as Juventus’ athletic trainer, from 1994 to 1999, contributing, together with Mister Lippi, to building and taking care of a Juve that won everything, in Italy and in Europe.
“Ventrone then returned to Turin from 2001 to 2004, enriching his (and our) squad with more victories.
“An innovative method, a care of the physical condition inspired by modern criteria, which set a school in Italy and abroad: Ventrone was, again with Lippi, on the staff of the 2006 World Champion Italy team, and continued to enrich his career with important experiences, in France, China and England, where he lived his last adventures.
“We will always remember his discreet figure, his attention to detail, his philosophy of work, and above all what was perhaps his greatest talent: understanding how football (and therefore one of its fundamental components, physical and athletic fitness) was gradually entering a new era.
“A new era that, in part, he helped to write.”