There’s set to be plenty of change at Liverpool this summer as Jurgen Klopp leaves the club.
The Reds have enjoyed a wonderful nine years under the German’s stewardship but are ready to embark on a new era.
It isn’t just Klopp leaving, of course. The former manager has always been keen to accentuate the input his coaching team have had in his success at Anfield, and many will take their leave with him.
Pep Lijnders and Vitor Matos already know where they’ll be heading next, with Matos acting as Lijnders assistant at RB Salzburg. Lijnders himself has a great reputation within football and will be missed at Liverpool.
According to Caoimhin Kelleher though, there’s another departing coach who has had just as big an impact.
Caoimhin Kelleher hails John Achterberg influence
During Klopp’s long farewell to Liverpool, the focus has rightly been on the big German.
On Tuesday Jurgen took in his last scheduled event as manager of the Reds. As ever, he had some interesting things to say.
But from what we saw during Klopp’s Anfield goodbye last weekend, he himself always wanted to make sure that the backroom staff got just as much recognition.
In our opinion, that’s fair enough. Although Klopp should take most of the credit for what he’s achieved with Liverpool, he couldn’t have done it alone.
Someone who’s been there with him every step of the way has been goalkeeping coach John Achterberg. And as he prepares to join up with Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq after 15 years with the Reds, Kelleher has hailed Achterberg’s influence.
“John has been absolutely massive for me and I told him at the party that I definitely wouldn’t be where I am now without everything he’s done for me,” the Irishman told The Athletic.
“The work he put in was incredible — always first into the training ground and the last to leave,” Kelleher added. “He brought me on leaps and bounds. I really loved working with him. I’m grateful that he was my coach for so long. Jack was brilliant too and I wish them both well.”
Liverpool eyeing new goalkeeping coach
Kelleher himself has now come out and admitted that he’s hoping to be a No.1 somewhere next season.
It looks likely that after Achterberg, the 25-year-old is calling time on his own Liverpool career.
That hole in the Liverpool squad will obviously have to be filled. But it’s also imperative that the Reds find themselves a new head goalkeeping coach.
Thankfully, Brazilian Claudio Taffarel looks set to stay, which is certainly good news. However, the World Cup winner seems unlikely to be head of the department under Arne Slot.
Instead, it has been claimed that Liverpool are looking at bringing in Feyenoord’s goalie coach Jyri Nieminen.
Just like Slot himself, whoever comes in has big boots to fill.