Chelsea coach QUITS after 18 years at club to join Thomas Tuchel’s England set-up

HENRIQUE HILARIO is set to end 18 years with Chelsea by leaving to join Thomas Tuchel at England.

The goalkeeper signed for the Blues in 2006 as third-choice behind Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini.

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Henrique Hilario will leave as Chelsea goalkeeping coach to join England[/caption]

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And he spent almost a decade providing back-up before retiring in 2014 having been part of Premier League and Champions League-winning sides.

Two years after hanging up his gloves, Hilario returned to Chelsea under Antonio Conte as assistant goalkeeping coach.

He was then promoted two years later by Maurizio Sarri and remained in that role – under Tuchel too.

But the German manager – who succeeds Gareth Southgate as Three Lions boss – will take Hilario with him to Wembley.

SunSport revealed in November how Tuchel plotted a swoop for his former keeping coach.

The FA officially announced the out-of-work German as Gareth Southgate’s successor in October.

But he won’t take charge of the Three Lions – who he’s signed an 18-month deal with – until January 1.

Tuchel, 51, is using the time off to get his backroom team in place.

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He’s also convinced Chelsea’s current performance analyst James Melbourne to join him.

Hilario and Melbourne will be welcomed by a familiar face in former Blues coach Anthony Barry, who Tuchel has installed as his No2.