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New Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has brought four members of his Bournemouth staff with him to Anfield ahead of the start of the 2026/27 season.
Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper join as first-team coaches, Pablo de la Torre as assistant coach, and Tom Webber as first-team tactical analyst.
Their arrival helps fill gaps left by Sipke Hulshoff, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Ruben Peeters and tactical analyst Roderick van der Ham, who all departed in late May following Arne Slot’s appointment.
However, Liverpool’s individual development lead coach Luiz Fernando Iubel remains in place. The Brazilian, recruited by Fenway Sports Group technical director Julian Ward in September last year after a spell at Atletico Mineiro, continues to play a key role linking the senior and academy setups.
According to The Athletic, Xavi Valero has stepped down as Liverpool’s head of first-team goalkeeper coaching. The 53-year-old Spanish coach will not be part of Iraola’s backroom staff when pre-season begins at Kirkby next week.
Valero informed Liverpool before the end of last season of his intention to return to Spain, just 12 months after rejoining from West Ham United. His departure is understood to be amicable and unrelated to changes elsewhere in the coaching setup.
Liverpool are assessing a number of candidates as they look to appoint Xavi Valero’s successor, with Colin Stewart set to take charge on an interim basis.
Stewart, who is the club’s goalkeeper development and pathway lead, only joined Liverpool last summer after nine years at Rangers.
First-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker will miss the start of pre-season as he continues his break following World Cup duty with Brazil, who were eliminated in the last 16 by Norway. Liverpool’s senior goalkeeping group also includes Giorgi Mamardashvili, Freddie Woodman and Armin Pecsi.
Valero, meanwhile, leaves after a second spell at Anfield. He previously worked under Rafael Benítez between 2007 and 2010 before following the Spaniard to Inter Milan, Chelsea, Napoli and Real Madrid.
He later spent seven years at West Ham United before returning to Liverpool last summer, recruited by sporting director Richard Hughes after the departure of Fabian Otte, who moved to Tottenham Hotspur.