How Vinay Menon became first wellness coach for Premier League team Chelsea?

Former Blues’ owner Roman Abramovich first recognised Menon.

Vinay Menon who pursued a career in wellness mainly because of his maternal ‘yogi’ grandfather never imagined he would be a wellness coach for one of the most famous English clubs Chelsea.

Born in Kerala, Menon used to give wellness, yoga, and relaxation exercises to some big personalities such as billionaires and celebrities in a luxury hotel in Dubai before the father of Abramovich’s then-wife Dasha booked an appointment.

Menon was then called to London to provide sessions to all of Abramovich’s family. Roman Abramovich was so impressed with his classes that he sent Menon to work for Chelsea’s senior team as the Premier League’s first wellness coach.

How Vinay Menon’s life changed after becoming a wellness coach for Chelsea?

“Roman asked for it to happen and it happened,” Menon says.

“I was an Indian, who was never exposed to football, entering a massive club and it seemed impossible.

“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.”

For Menon, it was a very different situation as in his life he had never watched football. It was a cultural shock for the squad who either finished as Premier League winners or runners-up in the last five seasons.

“We are talking about elite performance – change is always difficult,” Menon says.

“Adding or taking away is always difficult, people don’t want to change because they are already performing and winning. Why should they?

“Everyone treated me well but training the players wasn’t easy initially. I should thank a few players, who were ready to try me.”

Not many players showed inclination towards joining Menon’s classes initially as his sessions were available if the players felt it would be useful. However, Chelsea ace  Didier Drogba was the first to become Menon’s advocate.

“Didier was the initial one – 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.

“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.

“After that Joe Cole, Frank Lampard, John Terry began coming to me to try it.

“The medical department were fantastic and made me part of their team, despite being from a different discipline.”

Menon’s sessions were impactful and aided players in many ways. It helped them focus on their mental health and dispel the negative thoughts that can come with top-flight pressure and scrutiny.

“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.

“They are human beings and need a friend to giggle with, babble to and then they will open up.

“You need to be happy in the mind in sports and business. It’s the same – the mind is everything.”

Menon was constant in Chelsea’s backroom for 13 years and also worked under some famous managers such as Carlo Ancelotti, Rafael Benitez, Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel.

But his time at the club came to an end when new owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital bought the club in 2022 and decided to revamp Chelsea’s backroom staff notably in the medical department.

“Change is inevitable in life,” he says. “The old regime had a lot of success and put a big mark on the club.

“Another management team came in which is very ambitious, very different, from a different region, understanding football on a different level.

“They need time to adapt, they are maybe in a sort of pre-season, I believe they will adapt. I worked with the new management and they are good.

“I wish them all the best; I am still a Chelsea fan and the club gave me everything I have.”

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