Premier League bosses are like package deals. In modern football, few head coaches enter through the doors of a new top flight club on their own, without the support of their trusted backroom staff behind them.
When Chelsea owner Todd Boehly swooped in to lure Graham Potter away from Brighton with a lucrative five-year deal, the pair would no doubt have discussed which staff members the 47-year-old wanted to bring with him to Stamford Bridge.
On an individual basis, his Cinderella story from the fourth tier of Swedish football to the dizzying heights of the Champions League deserves high praise — although Potter would be the first to admit that his backroom staff had a huge part to play in his meteoric rise.
Chelsea’s appointment of Graham Potter has sparked a reshuffle in the Blues’ backroom staff
The new head coach launched his Chelsea career with a 1-1 draw against Red Bull Salzburg
Chelsea announced the club’s new-look backroom staff ahead of their 1-1 draw against Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday, which includes five lieutenants from Potter’s team at the Amex.
Despite a number of significant alterations following Thomas Tuchel’s departure, Chelsea have also retained a couple of key figures in the dressing room in a bid to offer stability during the changeover.
As Potter continues to get to grips with life at Stamford Bridge, Sportsmail has listed and examined the individuals who make up his backroom staff.
Billy Reid – Assistant Manager
Having worked alongside Potter for nine years at Ostersunds, Swansea and Brighton, Billy Reid has taken the role of assistant manager at Stamford Bridge.
His only experience at the helm came between 2004 and 2013, when Reid managed Scottish outfits Clyde and Hamilton Academical, but the Glaswegian has since racked up almost a decade of experience as a deputy.
As Chelsea unveiled the new team on their club website, Potter insisted that Reid’s know-how and interpersonal skills would benefit the Blues.
Billy Reid (left) has worked next to Potter for nine years at Ostersunds, Swansea and Brighton
‘Billy brings a lot of experience,’ he said.
‘Really good with people, building connections with people in the club and someone who the players really enjoy working with.’
With the help of Bjorn Hamberg, Reid took charge of Brighton against Leicester in January after Potter tested positive for coronavirus, leading the Seagulls to a 1-1 draw thanks to a late equaliser from Danny Welbeck.
Potter insisted…