{"id":1757,"date":"2024-08-22T04:05:32","date_gmt":"2024-08-22T04:05:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betwealthsuretips.com\/blog\/chelsea-vinay-menon-premier-leagues-first-wellness-coach\/"},"modified":"2024-08-22T04:05:32","modified_gmt":"2024-08-22T04:05:32","slug":"chelsea-vinay-menon-premier-leagues-first-wellness-coach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/betwealthsuretips.com\/blog\/chelsea-vinay-menon-premier-leagues-first-wellness-coach\/","title":{"rendered":"Chelsea: Vinay Menon – Premier League’s First Wellness Coach"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Vinay Menon knew little about Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich. He knew even less about football; he had never seen a match in his life.<\/b><\/p>\n

But as he approached the door of Abramovich’s west London mansion in 2009, he was about to have a meeting that would change his life and transform him into, arguably, the most famous Indian in the sport.<\/p>\n

Born in Kerala and inspired by his maternal ‘yogi’ grandfather to pursue a career in wellness, Menon was a word-of-mouth recommendation to the Russian oligarch. <\/p>\n

He was delivering wellness, yoga and relaxation exercises to billionaires and celebrities at a luxury hotel in Dubai, when the father of Abramovich’s then-wife Dasha booked in for a session.<\/p>\n

Menon then came to London to run private classes for the Abramovichs. But Roman was so impressed by Menon that he sent him to Chelsea’s Cobham training ground with a brief to work with the first-team squad as the Premier League’s first wellness coach.<\/p>\n

“Roman asked for it to happen and it happened,” Menon says.<\/p>\n

“I was an Indian, who was never exposed to football, entering a massive club and it seemed impossible.<\/p>\n

“There was a big barrier, but it was not an immovable rock because it came from the owner himself – he initiated that change so everyone was ready to try.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

“Didier was the initial one \u2013 Chelsea is like one big family and we just sat and ate in the canteen with the players and so we started a conversation organically while eating,” says Menon.<\/p>\n

“He asked what I can do for him, and I told him we can try this, and he asked me to try right away. That was the moment where football opened in front of me.<\/p>\n

“After that Joe Cole, Frank Lampard, John Terry began coming to me to try it. <\/p>\n

“The medical department were fantastic and made me part of their team, despite being from a different discipline.”<\/p>\n

Menon’s sessions involved meditation, sharpening players’ mental approach and dispelling the negative thoughts that can come with top-flight pressure and scrutiny.<\/p>\n

“I was a person without a title, teaching the players self-care and how to balance, spiritually, emotionally, and ultimately impact them physically,” says Menon.<\/p>\n

“They are human beings and need a friend to giggle with, babble to and then they will open up.<\/p>\n

“You need to be happy in the mind in sports and business. It\u2019s the same \u2013 the mind is everything.”<\/p>\n

Menon was a constant presence in the Chelsea backroom staff for 13 years, working under managers such as Carlo Ancelotti, Rafael Benitez, Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte and, finally, Thomas Tuchel.<\/p>\n

“I got the chance to be part of all the trophies Chelsea won from 2010,” he says. <\/p>\n

“What an experience, it was an unbelievable space, I miss it a lot, frankly.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Menon blazed a new trail in 2022, travelling to the World Cup as part of Roberto Martinez’s Belgium staff. <\/p>\n

India \u2013 the most populous nation on earth \u2013 has never qualified for the tournament and Menon’s presence caught the attention of his compatriots.<\/p>\n

“This representation always helps my home country and the young generation to show that there is a career,” he says.<\/p>\n

“We can be in this arena. If you are not in as a player, at least in the backroom staff. Traditionally, in India most parents say you should first study and then play. I want to change that so study and play is 50\/50. You need to follow your dreams.”<\/p>\n

Menon believes infrastructure will need to change, along with mindset, if his home country is to become a factor on the international football scene.<\/p>\n

“We are a country of 1.4bn people and the main problem is filtration,” he adds.<\/p>\n

“We need a minimum 100 grassroots level clubs to filter this. It is about structuring the grassroots level and schools.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you systemise it, we will have a team.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the last World Cup, many Indians were in Qatar and followed Messi and Ronaldo’s journey. But we need a cultural change. Sports are important for the future, mental wellness, health, economy as well.<\/p>\n

“I have had these conversations before in India and if my country needs me, I will always be there. I am sure sooner or later we will be at the World Cup.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Vinay Menon knew little about Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich. 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