Liverpool are set to see a revamped coaching team take over at the club this summer.
Having become so used to Jurgen Klopp and his backroom staff, Reds fans are going to have to get to know a host of new faces.
As has already been confirmed, Arne Slot will be the man to take on the big job. And while an official announcement is yet to made, it seems fairly certain that his Feyenoord assistant Sipke Hulshoff will join him at Anfield.
Beyond Hulshoff, two more members of Slot’s Feyenoord coaching team will reportedly take up new posts at Liverpool.
But it isn’t just the Reds who are reshaping this summer. There are a number of huge sides across Europe doing the same. And according to reports in Spain, a departing member of the Liverpool squad may be part of a new-look backroom team of his own.
Thiago Alcantara offered Barcelona role
There are a whole host of big sides heading into new eras next season. Liverpool, obviously, but also Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Juventus, AC Milan, perhaps even Man United.
In that climate, the Reds have done really well to capture Slot. Most of the other sides are still scrabbling around for their next manager, with Bayern in particular set to make an interesting choice.
But the circus at Bayern is orderly compared to what’s going on at Barcelona. The Spanish giants saw Xavi declare his intention to walk away from the club at the start of the year. Having then convinced him to change his mind and stay, Barca have now sacked him anyway.
The man set to replace him is former Bayern and Germany boss Hansi Flick. And according to AS Diario, Flick is now looking for a Spanish speaking assistant to join him at the Camp Nou.
They claim that the German’s search has begun with Thiago Alcantara, who is set to leave Liverpool. Having played under Flick so successfully at Bayern, it’s claimed that Thiago has already been contacted with a view to being part of the new manager’s coaching team.
However, with the midfielder being just 33, there is reportedly ‘pessimism’ that Thiago will accept. Other options for Flick are said to be Marc Bartra and another of his old Bayern charges, Javi Martinez.
What next for Thiago Alcantara?
This is a really intriguing report. Given Thiago’s intelligence on the football field, you’d wager that he would indeed make a good coach.
As Jurgen Klopp said upon the announcement of his Liverpool departure, Thiago is a simply ‘incredible’ footballer [liverpoolfc.com]. He could surely help pass on his wisdom to the next generation.
Having played so little football over the past 18 months, maybe it’s an option that the Reds No.6 would entertain.
However, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Thiago is still focused on playing. Despite having offers on the table from the Middle East, Romano claims that the veteran is planning to take an opportunity in Europe.
Nevertheless, maybe the pull of a return to the club he came through the academy at – and a reunification with his old boss – will prove too strong. We’ll be watching on with fascination.