NASHVILLE, USA - Saturday, July 25, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola (L) and first team coach Tommy Elphick during a friendly match between Liverpool FC and Sunderland AFC at the Nashville SC Stadium. Liverpool won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
NASHVILLE, USA - Saturday, July 25, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola (L) and first team coach Tommy Elphick during a friendly match between Liverpool FC and Sunderland AFC at the Nashville SC Stadium. Liverpool won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Andoni Iraola has been happy to remind first-team coach Tommy Elphick he is “living his dream” at Liverpool after turning down senior Championship roles this summer.
Elphick followed Iraola from Bournemouth to Anfield, joining Shaun Cooper and Pablo de la Torre as part of the Spaniard’s backroom staff.
The 38-year-old is a boyhood Liverpool fan, and Steven Gerrard was among his heroes growing up, giving him a unique understanding of the club in his new role.
And it is that connection to Liverpool that saw Elphick reject offers from Championship sides – including Burnley and Bristol City – to join Iraola on his new venture.
“Tommy, I tell him, he is living his dream! I think he had this summer a chance to coach in the Championship,” Iraola told LFCTV.
NASHVILLE, USA - Saturday, July 25, 2026: Liverpool's first team coach Tommy Elphick during a friendly match between Liverpool FC and Sunderland AFC at the Nashville SC Stadium. Liverpool won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
NASHVILLE, USA - Saturday, July 25, 2026: Liverpool's first team coach Tommy Elphick during a friendly match between Liverpool FC and Sunderland AFC at the Nashville SC Stadium. Liverpool won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“Good clubs called him, but I think he couldn’t miss this because he’s been a big Liverpool fan.”
Elphick is reported to have managerial ambitions for the future, but he could not pass up the chance to represent his boyhood club and continue his development as a No. 2.
Liverpool will likely hope he does not follow John Heitinga’s footsteps, though, after he pursued a senior role only a year after acting as Arne Slot‘s assistant.
“As a boyhood fan, I grew up watching the likes of Steven Gerrard, so to be playing against your heroes is massive.”
Iraola continued: “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 has proven a vocal presence during glimpses at training so far, with the 38-year-old’s role including defensive set-plays and acting as a conduit from the squad to the head coach.
Andoni Iraola explains Elphick and Cooper’s value
NEW YORK, USA - Wednesday, July 29, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola and assistants Tommy Elphick, Shaun Cooper and Pablo de la Torre after a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Wrexham AFC at Yankee Stadium. Liverpool won 1-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
NEW YORK, USA - Wednesday, July 29, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola and assistants Tommy Elphick, Shaun Cooper and Pablo de la Torre after a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Wrexham AFC at Yankee Stadium. Liverpool won 1-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
While Elphick and Cooper will prove invaluable on a tactical front for Iraola, the duo’s experience in English football is highly regarded, as is their ability to connect with the squad.
“Tommy and Shaun are very valuable because they have been English players, they’ve played in the Premier League, the Championship, League One; they understand the culture, they understand what the players are thinking,” Iraola said of his first-team coaches.
“So now, I think they are the best ones to transmit the same thing (his processes) to the players and to the new coaches that we already had in the club. They are helping me a lot.
“I think they are sometimes in more touch with the players than me, because always with the manager there is a little bit more distance.
“I think the players are more comfortable sometimes with the assistants. They also know when to filter the information, when I need to know things.
“Sometimes they don’t tell me the things that for sure stay between them and the players. They are brilliant in this.”
Football – Pre-Season – Liverpool USA Tour Day 4
Football - Pre-Season - Liverpool USA Tour Day 4
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1 circle collage (42)
Football – Pre-Season – Liverpool USA Tour Day 12
CHICAGO, USA - Friday, July 31, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola and Josh Abe (R) during an open training session at the Endeavor Health Performance Center ahead of their final pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field in Chicago. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)