Sometimes fate throws you into situations you never envisioned for yourself, such as a job in the Premier League.
Félix Fernández Cao can attest to that. Four years ago he departed Spain to take up a job with Chinese side Wuhan Zall FC as their new fitness/assistant coach.
Six months later and he’d swapped them for Hebei China Fortune, where, in August 2016, he would meet Manuel Pellegrini.
He impressed the Chilean who, when he signed a deal to join West Ham United last summer, elected to take Coa with him as West Ham’s assistant fitness coach.
It’s a role he holds to this day and one he admits is a dream come true for him.
“I still had links with the Asian club, but when they (Pellegrini) decided to count on me in England, I was sure it was time to return to Europe,” he told La Voz de Galicia.
“Working with Pellegrini in the Premier is a dream come true. It is different from everything else because this league is the best in terms of organisational structure.
“In addition, we have reached a club that is one of the most traditional in England. We are lucky to play at the London Olympic Stadium, with capacity for 60,000 people, and it is filled every week.”
Pellegrini has proven to be a good appointment for the Hammers, stabilising the ship after a turbulent few years for the club.
Last season he led West Ham to tenth in the table while his side sit eight, two points outside of the top four, after eight games this year.
Their start to this campaign has some Hammers fans hoping they can challenge further up the table this year and Cao says they are aware that a top-six place is there to be taken.
“The truth is that we are having a good start to the season,” he added.
“If we had won at Crystal Palace last Saturday, we would have gone into the international break in third .
“This year, the first six positions seem more open, with the problems of other adversaries such as Manchester United, Tottenham or Chelsea, who cannot make signings.”
