Ten Cate takes Chelsea job

Chelsea FC have announced that Henk ten Cate has joined their coaching staff, with the London club's website saying: "Chelsea can confirm that Henk ten Cate has joined as assistant first-team coach."

Grant aid
Ten Cate arrives at Stamford Bridge after being released by AFC Ajax on Tuesday and he will work alongside manager Avram Grant, who replaced José Mourinho last month. No contract details have been disclosed for the 52-year-old Dutchman.

Success
A versatile forward as a player, Ten Cate has maintained an attacking approach in coaching, enjoying success with several clubs. He took Sparta Rotterdam to the Dutch Cup final in 1996, BV Vitesse to their best finish of third place in 1997/98, and NAC Breda into Europe in 2002/03. If his positive attitude did not reap rewards in Germany with KFC Uerdingen 05, it did ensure MTK Budapest lifted the Hungarian Cup in 2000.

High praise
In 2003 he became Frank Rijkaard's assistant at FC Barcelona, helping them win two Spanish titles as well the UEFA Champions League in 2006. Ten Cate was considered Rijkaard's equal at Barcelona and was greatly admired by the squad. "Ten Cate makes me a better player," Ronaldinho once said. The Camp Nou No2 finally took a job at a leading Dutch side when succeeding Danny Blind as Ajax's head coach in summer 2006.

European exits
His tenure began with a surprise defeat by FC København in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers, yet Ajax bounced back to collect the Dutch Cup and only missed out on the championship on goal difference. More European disappointment followed this term, however, as Ajax were beaten in qualifying for the UEFA Champions League by SK Slavia Praha, before losing in the UEFA Cup to NK Dinamo Zagreb. Chelsea, seventh in the Premier League, take on FC Schalke 04 on 24 October, attempting to extend their lead in UEFA Champions League Group B.