Liverpool FC is making some changes to the team behind the team ahead of the new season. Fabian Otte is one of the Germans affected, while Giovanni van Bronckhorst is among the new arrivals.
Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez – unlike before his first season as Liverpool FC coach, Arne Slot is getting some reinforcements for his team this year. But it’s not just the championship squad that is seeing some personnel changes, there are also some behind the scenes. On Wednesday, the Reds announced two additions and two departures from their staff.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst will become the new assistant coach, replacing his compatriot John Heitinga, who has left after just one year to become head coach at Ajax Amsterdam. Van Bronckhorst has coached Feyenoord Rotterdam and Glasgow Rangers, among others, before enjoying an unfortunate spell at Besiktas Istanbul between July and November 2024. The 50-year-old has not yet coached in the Premier League, but played professionally for Arsenal between 2001 and 2004.
There is also a change in the position of goalkeeping coach. Fabian Otte, who moved to Anfield Road last summer to replace Jürgen Klopp, is leaving the club again. The 34-year-old, who coached Borussia Mönchengladbach’s goalkeepers between 2021 and 2024 and will also take charge of the US national team from 2023, is the last remaining German on the Liverpool staff. He had succeeded John Achterberg last year, who had held the position for 13 years.
Valero returns after 15 years – Taffarel bids farewell
Xavi Valero is returning to replace Otte, whose future is still unclear. The 52-year-old Spaniard most recently spent seven years with Liverpool’s Premier League rivals West Ham United. He previously worked as goalkeeping coach for the Reds between 2007 and 2010.
Claudio Taffarel, who was also part of the goalkeeping coaching team, has also left the club. The former world-class keeper and World Cup winner with Brazil joined in 2021 and initially stayed on after the change of manager last year.
