"That was the moment where football opened in front of me."
Vinay Menon has gone from Kerala to the heart of Chelsea Football Club and it is a story of transformation and influence.
Menon initially knew little about football.
But he found himself at the forefront of one of the Premier League’s biggest clubs thanks to a chance encounter.
Menon is a wellness expert who was inspired by his ‘yogi’ grandfather.
In 2009, he was providing wellness services at a luxury hotel in Dubai when the father-in-law of Chelsea’s then-owner Roman Abramovich booked in for a session.
Impressed by Menon, Abramovich invited him to London to run private classes for his family.
This evolved into something larger when Abramovich decided to integrate Menon’s wellness philosophy into his football club.
Vinay Menon said: “Roman asked for it to happen and it happened.
“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.”
Menon’s introduction to Chelsea’s Cobham training ground marked a new beginning in both his career and the club’s history.
As the Premier League’s first wellness coach, Menon brought a fresh perspective to the team, focusing on mental well-being, meditation, and emotional balance.
His unconventional methods were gradually accepted by the players.
Didier Drogba was one of the first to embrace Menon’s techniques, which led to a broader acceptance within the squad.
Menon told BBC Sport: “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.
“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.”
Over the next 13 years, Menon became a fixture at Chelsea, working under multiple managers and contributing to the club’s numerous triumphs, including their Champions League victory in 2021.
His sessions involved meditation, sharpening players’ mental approach and dispelling the negative thoughts that can come with top-flight pressure and scrutiny.
Menon’s influence was not just confined to Chelsea.
In 2022, he joined Roberto Martinez’s staff for the Belgium national team at the World Cup.
This move brought attention to India, where football is yet to reach its full potential.
According to Vinay Menon, his journey is a beacon for aspiring young Indians, highlighting that there is a place for them on the international football stage, even if it is not on the pitch.
On what is needed for India to make a mark on the international football stage, Menon said:
“We are a country of 1.4 billion people and the main problem is filtration.”
“We need a minimum 100 grassroots-level clubs to filter this. It is about structuring the grassroots level and schools. If you systemise it, we will have a team.
“At the last World Cup, many Indians were in Qatar and followed Messi and Ronaldo’s journey.
“But we need a cultural change. Sports are important for the future, mental wellness, health, economy as well.
“I have had these conversations before in India and if my country needs me, I will always be there. I am sure sooner or later we will be at the World Cup.”
Although Chelsea has since seen a change in ownership, with Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital taking over, Menon remains optimistic about the club’s future.
He added: “Change is inevitable in life. 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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