Son Heung-min explains touching moment with tragic Spurs coach Gian Piero Ventrone

It was confirmed on Thursday morning that Tottenham Hotspur fitness coach Gian Piro Ventrone has passed away at the age of 62 after suffering with fulminant leukaumia

13:03, 06 Oct 2022

Gian Piero Ventrone has sadly passed away at the age of 62(Image: Tottenham)

Son Heung-min explained the touching moment he shared with tragic Tottenham Hotspur coach Gian Piero Ventrone prior to his death.

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Spurs fitness coach Pentrone has sadly passed away at the age of 62 after battling with fulminant leukaemia, it was confirmed on Thursday morning. Just last month, Son had shared a heartfelt hug with the Italian after scoring a hat-trick off the bench in his side's 6-2 thrashing of Leicester City in the Premier League.

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Following the match, Son revealed that their embrace had stemmed from Ventrone “really comfortable and really grateful” with a training ground chat prior to the match.

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"Yeah, he is a killer," explained Son, via football.london. "He is a killer but I have a really, really good relationship with Gian Piero. So obviously his English is not perfect, sometimes he is coming with his phone and translating into English from Italian.

"It means a lot. Not as football-wise, I think life-wise he gives me so much advice, which I am really grateful. He has been so helpful, giving me always a big hug in tough times and even great times he has always been next to me and every staff.

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"Even today before we left the training ground, the hotel, we had a couple of minutes of having a nice conversation which made me really comfortable and really grateful."

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 17: Heung-Min Son of Tottenham Hotspur and Gian Piero Ventrone, fitness coach at Tottenham Hotspur embrace following the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 17, 2022 in London, England.

Son Heung-min explained his touching embrace with Gian Piero Ventrone(Image: Getty Images)

Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport first reported the news of Ventrone's death before Spurs confirmed his passing in an official club statement.

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Their heartfelt tribute read: “We are devastated to announce that fitness coach Gian Piero Ventrone has passed away.

“The 61-year-old joined the Club in November, 2021, as part of Antonio Conte’s backroom staff, having previously held roles at Juventus, Catania, JS Suning, GZ Evergrande and AC Ajaccio.

“As loveable off the pitch as he was demanding on it, Gian Piero quickly became a hugely popular figure with players and staff. He will be greatly missed by everyone at the Club and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this impossibly sad time.”

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Gian Piero Ventrone was much loved by the players at Tottenham Hotspur(Image: Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)

Ventrone arrived at Spurs in November last year following the appointment of Antonio Conte, having previously worked in France, Italy and China.

He also had two spells as athletic coach at Juventus and was a member of the backroom staff with the Old Lady when they won the Champions League in 1996.

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