Liverpool appoint two former Bournemouth coaches to assist Andoni Iraola
Liverpool are set to finalise the appointments of Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper as assistant coaches this weekend to support new manager Andoni Iraola at Anfield.
The coaching duo have agreed to terminate their contracts with Bournemouth in order to reunite with the recently appointed Spanish tactician on Merseyside.
The Cherries had initially hoped the pair would remain at the Vitality Stadium to work under incoming head coach Marco Rose next season.
However, boyhood Reds supporter Elphick rejected the opportunity to stay in Dorset and recently turned down the head coach position at Bristol City to follow his former boss.
A fresh start following Slot’s dismissal
These latest backroom arrivals follow a turbulent period for the six-time European champions.
Former Dutch manager Arne Slot was dismissed following a dismal second year in charge, which saw the previous Premier League winners plummet to a fifth-place finish.
That steep domestic decline occurred despite a massive summer investment of more than £400m on new playing talent.
The club hierarchy moved swiftly to secure the 41-year-old manager after his impressive three-year tenure on the south coast culminated in unexpected European qualification.
Embracing the Anfield challenge
The incoming head coach will also reunite with Hungarian defender Milos Kerkez, who made the switch from Bournemouth to the North West 12 months ago.
Stepping into an elite environment for the first time in his managerial career, the newly installed commander expressed his immense pride upon taking the reins.
“Really excited because obviously you know about Liverpool, you know that it’s a big club, a massive club, one of the biggest in the world.”
The new boss detailed his immediate connection to the club’s prestigious history during his official unveiling.
“Feeling inside and understanding a little bit more of this club, I always thought it’s a special club.”
“The atmosphere, the supporters, the chance for me to coach top-level players and the chance to fight for titles, I think it cannot be more attractive than this.”
