Andoni Iraola‘s arrival at Liverpool means there are new faces to get to know in his backroom staff. So, who are they?
The Spaniard arrived from Bournemouth over the summer and is set for his biggest challenge yet at Anfield.
There is an expectation that change will extract what is needed from the squad to improve performances, and Iraola and his coaches will spearhead the transition.
He has brought several figures with him from Bournemouth after Arne Slot‘s contingent departed, so let’s take a look at who makes up his backroom staff this season.
Tommy Elphick – First-team coach
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Replacing Sipke Hulshoff is Elphick, who arrives after working with Iraola at the Vitality since 2023, having first been promoted to the first-team setup under Gary O’Neil in early 2022/23.
The former centre-back played for the likes of Bournemouth, Brighton and Aston Villa throughout his playing career and is well-known to be a boyhood Liverpool fan.
He acted as the bridge between the players and Iraola on the south coast, and his work included working with individual players, and delivering set-piece plans.
Elphick is hands-on, and don’t be surprised to hear his voice boom from the touchline on matchdays and during training.
Shaun Cooper – First-team coach
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola (left) after the Premier League match at St Mary's Stadium, Southampton. Picture date: Saturday February 15, 2025.
Cooper is another of Iraola’s trusted voices who has followed him to Anfield. He took a similar path to Elphick to Bournemouth‘s first-team setup, having been promoted from the U21s under O’Neil.
The 42-year-old played for the likes of Bournemouth, Portsmouth and Sutton United throughout his playing career, and transitioned into coaching at the Cherries’ academy.
His responsibilities under Iraola have included set-piece coaching, with innovative routines, as well as defensive organisation and analysis.
You will likely see Iraola position himself between Cooper and Elphick on the bench during games, eager for both their inputs.
Pablo de la Torre – Assistant coach
He is another to follow Iraola, though he has previously worked with the Spaniard in Cyprus and Spain prior to his Premier League move.
He was anticipated to inherit the title as the club’s lead physical coach from Ruben Peeters after his departure in the wake of Slot’s sacking, but De La Torre has been listed by the club as assistant coach.
His responsibilities are, however, expected to see him oversee the squad’s fitness and conditioning.
De la Torre is trained in sports science and physical therapy and is Iraola’s trusted right-hand man, who AS describes as “meticulous, ambitious, detail-obsessed.”
Tom Webber – Performance analyst
Webber takes over the role from Roderick van der Ham after he became the latest to leave after the change in head coach.
Webber previously worked for Birmingham City and Leicester, and will be responsible for opposition scouting, tactical analysis and assisting players with identifying pressing triggers.
He has also swapped the Vitality for Anfield.
Xavi Valero – Head of first-team goalkeeping
MILAN, ITALY - Tuesday, December 9, 2025: Liverpool's head of first-team goalkeeper coaching Xavi Valero during the pre-match warm-up before the UEFA Champions League match between FC Internazionale Milano and Liverpool FC at the Stadio San Siro. Liverpool won 1-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
He spent seven years at West Ham and was another new addition for Slot last year. He works closely with Alisson, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Freddie Woodman and Armin Pecsi.
Valero replaced Fabian Otte and returned to Liverpool as head of first-team goalkeeper coaching, having been at the club under Rafa Benitez.
Colin Stewart – Goalkeeper development and pathway lead
HONG KONG - Thursday, July 24, 2025: Liverpool's goalkeeper development and pathway lead Colin Stewart during a training session at the Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong ahead of the Hong Kong Football Festival 2025 pre-season tournament, on Day Four of the club's Asia Tour. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Colin Stewart came in to fill the void left by Brazil legend Claudio Taffarel last year, with the Scot having a journeyman career as a player.
He was joint caretaker manager of Rangers for a brief spell in 2021, and now helps oversee the development and integration of academy goalkeepers at Liverpool.
Stewart’s role will also see him involved in the loan strategies for the club’s goalkeepers, maintaining close relations across the first team and U21s set-up.
Luiz Fernando Iubel – First team individual development coach
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, October 21, 2025: Liverpool's assistant coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst and individual development load coach Luiz Fernando Iubel during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Liverpool FC. (Photo by Jessica Hornby/Propaganda)
Iubel arrived at the club last summer after leaving his position as assistant head coach of Atletico Mineiro to oversee the Reds’ development of players between the academy and first team.
He holds UEFA A, UEFA A Elite Youth and CONMEBOL Pro coaching licences, and the Brazilian can speak English, Portuguese, Spanish and German.
His role is similar to that previously held by Vitor Matos under Jurgen Klopp, and his duties also include working closely with players the club send on loan.
Jonathan Power – Director of medicine and performance
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - Tuesday, September 30, 2025: Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike walks off with an injury alongside club Doctor Jonathan Power during the UEFA Champions League match between Galatasaray A.?. and Liverpool FC at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium. Galatasaray won 1-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Power arrived at his boyhood team as the club’s doctor at the end of 2022, and you will have noticed him at the AXA Training Centre and on matchdays tending to injuries on the pitch.
He has vast experience across various sports, including rugby, aquatics, and triathlon, and now plays a key role in Liverpool’s medical department.
Lee Nobes – Head of physiotherapy
Liverpool Head Physio Lee Nobes (Photo by UEFA)
Nobes has been at the club since 2018 after joining from Man City, and has since worked under Klopp, Arne Slot and now Iraola.
Nobes is a member of the performance and rehabilitation team, leading the physiotherapy department, which includes the likes of Chris Morgan, Robin Sadler and David Breen.