Tore Andre Flo is set to become the manager of 2nd tier Norwegian side Sogndal. Mandatory Credit: Michael Cooper /Allsport
Speaking in an interview, as quoted by The Metro, Chelsea technical advisor Petr Cech bid parting words to coach Tore Andre Flo, who has left the club to join Norwegian side Sogndal.
The 48-year-old joined the club as a player back in 1998 and left in 2000. However, in his two and a half year stint at the club, Flo made 160 appearances across all competitions and scored 49 goals in that period. The 1.93m tall striker also lifted the FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, and the UEFA Super Cup during this time.
He retired in 2012 as a player but did not leave the world of football. He became manager of the youth side at Stamford Bridge and helped in developing world-class talent. In the past decade, he has also been a brand ambassador and also got involved in loan development. Flo has now decided to become the manager of Norwegian side Sogndal, where he started and ended his glorious playing career.
Chelsea legend and technical and performance advisor, Petr Cech, bid goodbye to the former Norwegian international and thanked him for his service to the West London club.
‘We have to thank Tore for everything he has done for the club. He has been a great servant as a player and then as a coach in the academy and now as a part of the loan department. The players loved working with him. He is a remarkable man and human being.
‘You hardly see somebody who works so hard but is still humble and nice to be around. We will definitely miss him, but we wish him all the best… He will always remain part of the Chelsea family for his history with the football club.’
On the face of it, this is just a regular departure. However, one needs to understand the importance of a man like Flo. Talents like Mason Mount, Conor Gallagher, Tammy Abraham, and several others have come out of the academy due to the diligence of people like the former Chelsea striker.
Although one does not know the extent of his involvement in the loan department, it is likely to have been a strenuous job, especially since we also had 42 players out on loan in 2019. Thus, his contribution is likely to have been key over the years.
An announcement is yet to be made on his replacement, but hopefully, he can do well in Norway. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did a fine job at Molde and Cardiff City before Manchester United hired him. He was sacked a couple of months ago but one can argue that the club is in a better position than they were when he took over.
Flo could pull off something similar, especially if he fares well at Sogndal. The Blues have shown in the past that former players could be handed managerial roles if they prove their worth, evidenced by Frank Lampard being made boss following a good spell at Derby County.
The Norwegian would surely increase his chances of achieving that if he can impress in one of Europe’s Top 5 leagues before potentially putting his name in the hat for the Chelsea job, but it is good to know that another one of our former stars is pursuing a career that could benefit us in the future.
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