Former Walsall defender Adrian Viveash, who made over two-hundred league appearances in a Saddlers shirt, has left his role as Manager of Chelsea's Under-23s - after nine successful years with the club.
Adi, a two-time Walsall Player of the Season, joined the Blues in 2008 and has worked with all ages from Under-12s upwards. He coached the Under-18s to three consecutive FA Youth Cup finals, triumphing in 2012 and 2014, before taking over Chelsea’s Under-21 side which has since evolved into the development squad.
Adi, who was part of the Saddlers squad which achieved promotion to Division One in 1999, also featured for the likes of Swindon Town, Barnsley (loan), Reading, Oxford United (loan), Kidderminster (loan), Aldershot Town and Cirencester Town over an eighteen year professional career.
Chelsea's Technical director Michael Emenalo spoke to club journalists as news brokes of Adi's departure and thanked the 47-year-old for his service to the club, speaking via ChelseaFC.com, he said: "Adi’s progression through the Academy and the success of the teams he has managed clearly show the quality of his work with Chelsea.
"We are immensely proud of the club’s record in the FA Youth Cup and Adi played a very important part in maintaining that. In the new area of European competition at Academy level, the back-to-back triumphs of our Under-19 sides was an outstanding achievement. We wish Adi all the best for the next stage of his career."