Casper Ankergren was part of Graham Potter’s coaching team at West Ham. The manager was shown the Hammers exit door in September, and Ankergren left along with him.
A goalkeeping coach, he’s now going to be working at Chelsea.
Potter returned to Sweden and took over the national team, facing a play-off in March to qualify for the World Cup. Ankergren didn’t join up with him again for that role, subsequently being out of work since the West Ham exit.
He’s now happy to have agreed a move to Chelsea. The Potter connection comes in again, with Ben Roberts, who leads the Blues’ goalkeeping coaching, having worked with both at Brighton.
It’s Roberts who is behind Ankergren getting the Chelsea role, and the latter is happy his connections have worked.
Why Chelsea job has come as a boost
Speaking to Denmark’s Bold, the 46-year-old made it clear just how pleased his is to be back in the game.
The workless months since West Ham have clearly caused a frustration. To return, and at a club of the level of Chelsea, is a huge boost for the coach’s career.
Bold quote Ankergren as saying: “It’s been strange not being able to do what I love for the past five months, so when the opportunity at Chelsea came up, I had no doubt that it was something I wanted to try.”
The contract with Chelsea lasts until the end of the season. There’s a near certainty the coach will hope for a longer stay, and now he has to impress those who make the decisions at the London club.
Liam Rosenior took over in January and Chelsea are currently pushing to qualify for the Champions League. They’re sixth in the table, three points behind Liverpool in fifth and six behind Aston Villa in fourth.