It has been a summer of significant change on Merseyside.
Liverpool’s preparations for the new Premier League season have been encouraging, with Andoni Iraola overseeing an impressive start to life at Anfield.
Positive results in pre-season have offered supporters an early glimpse of the Spaniard’s high-intensity style, while the new coaching staff have quickly settled into their roles behind the scenes.
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Much of the attention this summer has understandably focused on the players, with Liverpool continuing to adapt to fresh ideas under their new head coach.
However, the work taking place away from the spotlight has also been crucial, as Iraola builds a backroom team capable of helping deliver success over the coming seasons.
It appears that commitment has already been tested.
Iraola has now revealed that one member of his coaching staff attracted significant interest from the Championship during the summer, but ultimately made the decision to move to Liverpool despite receiving opportunities to step into a senior coaching role elsewhere.
That coach is Tommy Elphick, who joined Liverpool’s coaching staff this summer following Iraola’s arrival at Anfield.
The former Bournemouth captain has already made a strong impression, and according to the Liverpool boss, his passion for the club played a decisive role in rejecting offers from the second tier.
Speaking in a recent interview about Elphick, Iraola explained exactly why his assistant chose to join him on Merseyside.
“Tommy, I tell him, he is living his dream. I think he had this summer a chance to coach in the Championship. Good clubs called him, but I think he couldn’t miss this because he’s been a big Liverpool fan. We were talking the other day, meeting with the legends we have here, with Robbie Fowler, Ian Rush – he was like, ‘Oof, this is big.’ I like how he is feeling it and I think it’s very nice for him, yes.”
Elphick enjoyed a long playing career, most notably captaining Bournemouth during their rise to the Premier League before later featuring for the likes of Aston Villa and Huddersfield Town.
After hanging up his boots, he transitioned into coaching and reunited with Iraola, eventually following him to Liverpool this summer.
While Championship clubs clearly believed Elphick was ready to step into a bigger role, the opportunity to help lead the club he has supported throughout his life proved impossible to turn down.
Working alongside Liverpool legends such as Robbie Fowler and Ian Rush has only reinforced that feeling, with Iraola suggesting his assistant is relishing every moment of the experience.