Liverpool's new head coach, Andoni Iraola, is set to debut in his first match against Sunderland on Saturday in Nashville, accompanied by a carefully assembled coaching staff designed to address key areas for the club's resurgence. The team includes familiar faces from Iraola's previous tenure at Bournemouth, alongside specialists in fitness, set-pieces, and goalkeeping.
Tommy Elphick, Iraola's right-hand man and a self-proclaimed Liverpool fan, has followed the head coach from Bournemouth. Elphick, who had a playing career that included spells at Aston Villa and Huddersfield, brings extensive experience and is highly regarded, reportedly having turned down head coach offers from Championship clubs Bristol City and Burnley this summer. His coaching philosophy was influenced by Eddie Howe, under whom he played at Bournemouth. Elphick is expected to focus on defensive set-piece routines.
Shaun Cooper, another former Bournemouth colleague, will concentrate on offensive set plays. This is a critical appointment, as Liverpool conceded 23 goals from set-pieces last season. Cooper's work at Bournemouth saw the team score 20 set-piece goals, ranking sixth in the league, though they struggled defensively in this area. Iraola noted that both Elphick and Cooper were instrumental in helping him understand English football culture and player mentality upon his arrival at Bournemouth.
Fitness coach Pablo de la Torre, who has worked with Iraola since their time at AEK Larnaca in Cyprus, is described as a 'fiery character' and is expected to play a crucial role in managing player fitness, especially with Liverpool facing demands on multiple fronts, including European competition. De la Torre views his relationship with Iraola as more than just a professional one, emphasizing their deep mutual understanding and shared vision for building a team identity.
Luiz Fernando Iubel will also join the staff, bridging the gap between the first team, Under-21s, and Under-18s, a role similar to that of Vitor Matos under the previous management. Iubel, who has supported Liverpool since watching them in the 2005 Champions League final, previously served as assistant manager at Brazilian club Atletico Mineiro.
The new goalkeeping coach is Alejandro Rosalen, who arrives with a decorated background, having won two Serie A titles with Napoli. He replaces Xavi Valero, who departed after a single season in his second spell with the club. Tom Webber has been appointed as the first-team tactical analyst, succeeding Roddy van der Ham.
Iraola's initial intention was to bring his former No. 2 from Rayo Vallecano, Inigo Perez, but work permit issues prevented this. Perez has since taken the head coaching position at Rayo Vallecano, leading them to the Europa Conference League final and subsequently moving to Villarreal.
Iraola prefers to manage from a distance, empowering assistants like Elphick and Cooper to take on more direct training responsibilities and build deeper relationships with the players. On match days, Iraola positions himself between Elphick and Cooper to maintain constant communication and delegate touchline energy when his own voice is strained.
Iraola expressed his gratitude for his Bournemouth staff, highlighting their preparation and their role in facilitating his transition into English football. He emphasized that his continuity with Elphick and Cooper stems from their shared understanding of the game and their distinct contributions to the coaching team, including their assistance with set-piece strategies.