A former Liverpool star’s mysterious post has Anfield buzzing, hoping he’ll join Andoni Iraola as a coach.
A former Liverpool star recently shared a mysterious post that has got fans guessing he might join the new coaching team under manager Andoni Iraola.
Liverpool agreed in principle to make Iraola their new head coach on Tuesday night. According to The Athletic, the ex-Bournemouth boss is set to sign a two-year deal. We expect an official announcement soon, with Iraola taking over from Arne Slot.
ESPN reports that Iraola has already put together a list of five players he wants to sign, focusing on strengthening the wings. Some of the names linked to Liverpool include RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande, West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen, and PSG’s Bradley Barcola.
One of Iraola’s early plans is also to build his coaching team. He hopes to bring some of his Bournemouth staff, like coaches Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper, to Anfield.
There’s excitement around the possibility that a former Liverpool player could join Iraola’s staff to share their valuable club experience. James Milner retired from football this Monday after finishing his career at Brighton, and Thiago Alcantara recently stepped down from his coaching role at Barcelona.
Milner won seven trophies with Liverpool, including the Premier League and Champions League, while Thiago was a big signing from Bayern Munich and helped Liverpool win two trophies. Although Thiago lost the 2022 Champions League final with Liverpool, he was still a key player.
Earlier this week, The Times’ Paul Joyce said Liverpool hadn’t yet contacted Thiago’s representatives — but things could have changed since then.
Thiago’s recent Instagram story has caught the eyes of Reds fans. The post shows a picture of a pool with the words: “One more time,” sparking hope he might return to Anfield.
Thiago left Liverpool at the end of the 2023/24 season after dealing with many injuries and retired from professional football at just 33 years old.
When Thiago announced his departure, then-manager Jurgen Klopp praised him as a player who could fit into any top team. Klopp said he was thrilled when Thiago joined Liverpool and admired his special skills and impact on the team.
“His injuries were frustrating for all of us, but when he was on the pitch, his level was amazing,” Klopp said. “Now he’s moving on with his family, and we wish them all the best.”
But maybe, just maybe, Thiago’s next chapter will be a surprise return to Anfield after all.