Cristian Stellini and Antonio Conte have been together through the good times and bad. A promotion, a Serie A title win, but also allegations of match-fixing, suspensions and the loss of loved ones.
The last six months has been one of the toughest periods for the pair. Poor form for Tottenham, but more importantly, in what puts the game into perspective, the deaths of Spurs fitness coach Gian Piero Ventrone, Conte's friend Sinisa Mihajlovic and his former team-mate Gianluca Vialli.
For workaholic Conte, he must now endure what in many ways will be a painful spell on the sidlines, as he hands over responsibility to his long-term right-hand man Stellini while he recovers from surgery.