BREAKING NEWS: Tottenham fitness coach Gian Piero Ventrone dies suddenly from leukaemia, aged 62, with Spurs mourning Antonio Conte’s right-hand man who led their tough fitness regime
Tottenham coach Gian Piero Ventrone has died of fulminant leukaemia aged 62.
Antonio Conte’s fitness guru, who first earned the nicknamed ‘The Marine’ in Italy due to his tough training regimes, joined Tottenham as the manager’s right-hand man in 2021.
But it has now been widely reported that Ventrone suddenly passed away on Thursday, with Spurs mourning the loss of their coach.
The 62-year-old regularly performed his trademark drill this summer in Seoul, forcing the Spurs squad through gruelling session in 30-degree heat and 70 per cent humidity.
At times, the challenging sessions forced Tottenham stars such as Harry Kane and Son Heung-min to throw up from fatigue.
Ventrone was respected dearly amongst the Spurs players, with Son admitting he was ‘really comfortable and really grateful’ following a conversation with coach ahead of Tottenham’s trip to Leicester last month.
More to follow.
Tottenham coach Gian Piero Ventrone has died suddenly of fulminant leukaemia aged 62
WHAT IS LEUKAEMIA?
Leukaemia is a cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue, usually the bone marrow.
It leads to the over-production of abnormal white blood cells, which fight off infections.
But a higher number of white blood cells means there is ‘less room’ for other cells, including red blood cells – which transport oxygen around the body – and platelets – which cause blood to clot when the skin is cut.
There are many different types of leukaemia, which are defined according to the immune cells they affect and how the disease progresses.
For all types combined, 9,900 people in the UK were diagnosed with leukaemia in 2015, Cancer Research UK statistics reveal.
And in the US, around 60,300 people were told they had the disease last year, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Most cases have no obvious cause, with the cancer not being contagious or inherited.
Leukaemia generally becomes more common with age – the exception being acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which peaks in children.
Other risk factors include being male, exposed to certain chemicals or radiation, and some bone-marrow disorders.
Symptoms are generally vague and get worse over time.
These can include:
- Tiredness
- Frequent infections
- Sweats
- Bruising
- Heavy periods, nose bleeds or bleeding gums
- Palpitations
- Shortness of breath
Acute leukaemia – which progresses rapidly and aggressively – is often curable via chemo, radiotherapy or a stem cell transplant.
Chronic forms of the disease – which typically progress slowly – tend to incurable, however, these patients can often live with the disease.
Source: Leukaemia Care
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