Bernardo Cueva, a member of Enzo Maresca coaching staff at Chelsea, proudly waved the Mexican flag on Sunday after being crowned champion of the FIFA Club World Cup. The Mexican coach has played a key role in the recent success of the English club, specializing in set-piece tactics.

A Career Built in English Football

Cueva has built his professional career in European football, particularly in England. Since 2024, he has been part of the London club, overseeing set-piece strategies. His tactical input has become vital to the Blues’ playing style, as they aim to become the first champions under the new Club World Cup format.

With experience in both Liga MX and European football, the Guadalajara native has emerged as a key figure in Maresca's project at Stamford Bridge.

Praised by the Manager

Before Chelsea's semifinal clash against Fluminense, head coach Enzo Maresca publicly praised Cueva work.

“Since the start of the tournament, we’ve been working on a new attacking alternative. It’s working well, and Bernardo is doing a great job,” said the Italian manager during a press conference.

Who Is Bernardo Cueva?

Cueva is a Mexican coach specializing in tactical analysis and football statistics. From 2017 to 2020, he served as the Head of Sports Intelligence at Chivas, where he contributed to the club’s Concacaf Champions League title in 2018.

After leaving El Rebaño Sagrado, Cueva made the leap to European football, joining Thomas Frank’s staff at Brentford, where he played a role in the club’s historic promotion to the Premier League in the 2020–21 season.

Before joining Chelsea, he also worked with the Norwegian national team under Ståle Solbakken until 2022. In 2023, Chelsea added him to their coaching staff as a set-piece analyst reportedly with the approval of Mauricio Pochettino although he ultimately began working under Maresca.

That same year, Cueva was named as one of the members of the Expert Council the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) aimed to assemble to help reform and develop the national team.

A Source of National Pride

With the world title in hand and the Mexican flag draped over his shoulders, Bernardo Cueva became a symbol of pride for an entire country, proving that Mexican talent can also shine on the sidelines of world football’s grandest stages.