[Liverpool have confirmed](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/liverpool-confirm-new-goalkeeping-coach) the appointment of Alejandro Rosalen as the club’s new first-team goalkeeping coach, bringing an end to a swift search for Xavi Valero’s successor.
The 49-year-old Spaniard makes the move to Merseyside to join Andoni Iraola’s newly assembled backroom staff at the AXA Training Centre.
Rosalen arriving at this stage represents a crucial piece of business for the Reds, ensuring stability in the coaching ranks just as the squad prepares to jet off to the United States for the next phase of their 2026/27 pre-season campaign.
Surprise Valero departure explained
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The vacancy arose following the unexpected [decision of Xavi Valero](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7425990/2026/07/06/xavi-valero-liverpool-head-of-goalkeeper-coaching/) to step down from his role after just 12 months back at Anfield.
The 53-year-old, who previously served under Rafael Benítez during a highly successful period between 2007 and 2010, returned to the club only last summer after being recruited by sporting director Richard Hughes. However, Valero informed Anfield hierarchy before the conclusion of last season of his desire to return to his native Spain.
The departure was understood to be entirely amicable and completely unrelated to the managerial change that saw Arne Slot depart at the of the 2025/26 campaign and Iraola take the reins. With Valero heading home, Liverpool have now seen four senior goalkeeping coaches depart across three consecutive summers, following the exits of Fabian Otte, John Achterberg, and Claudio Taffarel.
While goalkeeper development and pathway lead Colin Stewart had been primed to steer the ship on an interim basis, senior figures at the club moved decisively to secure a permanent replacement.
In Rosalen, Liverpool have secured a coach with a glittering reputation across European football, most recently in Italy’s top flight.
The veteran coach spent the last three seasons with Serie A heavyweights Napoli, where he played an instrumental role in the backroom staff that secured two historic Scudetto triumphs in 2022-23 and 2024-25.
Before his highly successful stint in Naples, Rosalen spent eight years honing his craft with Fiorentina, which followed a brief spell in Hungary.
Rosalen’s arrival marks the latest addition to a radically transformed coaching setup under Iraola, who has wasted no time putting his own stamp on things ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
The former Bournemouth boss has already integrated four key members of his previous staff into the Anfield setup. Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper have joined as first-team coaches, Pablo de la Torre has stepped into the assistant coach role, and Tom Webber has taken up duties as the first-team tactical analyst.
The arrivals look to fill the significant voids left by Sipke Hulshoff, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Ruben Peeters, and tactical analyst Roderick van der Ham, who all moved on in late May.
Rosalen will be thrown straight into the deep end, with Liverpool scheduled to fly out to America later today.
He will inherit a senior goalkeeping group that currently features Giorgi Mamardashvili, Freddie Woodman, and highly-rated youngster Armin Pecsi.
However, Rosalen will have to wait to work with undisputed number one Alisson Becker. The Brazilian shot-stopper remains on an extended post-season break following his international exploits at the World Cup, where Brazil suffered a disappointing last-16 exit at the hands of Norway.