Klopp’s backroom staff had become almost as well known to supporters as Klopp himself, with a number of coaches staying throughout the German’s tenure.
While the likes of Pep Lijnders and Peter Krawietz have now moved on though, new faces will replace them. Arne Slot looks set to take a handful of his former Feyenoord team with him to Liverpool.
Although at least three coaches are rumoured to be joining, Feyenoord have reportedly blocked more from following Slot.
As a result, the Dutchman is going to have to find some extra help from elsewhere. And we think we’ve spotted a couple of clues to suggest that a recently departed former player may soon be back at Anfield.
(THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Kostas Tsimikas, Thiago Alcantara and Joel Matip of Liverpool arriving before the Premier League match between...
Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Jurgen Klopp hints at Joel Matip retirement
Liverpool have a good set up in place at the AXA Training Centre. With the academy and the first-team combined in the same facility, it’s easy for coaches to learn from each other.
This has been seen most recently in the evidence of Gary O’Neil. The former youth team coach is now a fully-fledged Premier League manager. As was Steven Gerrard before him.
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In short, it’s a good place to learn on the job. And that’s why we can see Joel Matip coming back to coach in some capacity this summer.
The first clue came in Klopp’s final pre-match press conference as Liverpool manager. Asked to comment on Matip, the manager suggested that he may not choose to return following his ACL injury in December.
“You will not find a more likeable person than Joel Matip, he’s funny in his own way – ridiculously funny, to be honest – and a wonderful man, with a wonderful family,” Klopp raved.
“So he has to make a decision if he wants to play on or not, we will see that or read it, whatever.”
With Matip’s recovery not likely to be completed until September time, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him granted use of the club’s facilities. Maybe this could then be bled into a role on the staff. It’s clearly a conversation he’s had with Klopp.
Joel Matip completes coaching course
The second clue to the possibility of Matip staying around came on Wednesday.
Taking to X, the PFA shared a picture of three Liverpool players; Diogo Jota, Adrian and indeed Matip, who have just completed the taking of their UEFA B Licence.
“The PFA have been supporting three LFC players on their coaching journey, recently completing the UEFA B Licence,” writes the caption. “Congratulations Adrian, Joel Matip and Diogo Jota.”
Obviously, players can take these courses at their convenience and for whatever reason they deem fit. Jota, for example, clearly is not ready to move into coaching.
We’d suggest that Adrian may have been, although Liverpool’s own announcement that the 37-year-old has been offered a new deal has put paid to that.
So, with Matip still recovering from an injury on the premises, hinting at a possible retirement and now completing a not insignificant degree, we wouldn’t rule this out.
It seems unlikely that he’d be part of Slot’s team if this were to happen, but it would be great to see Matip stay in any kind of capacity.
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