Thiago Alcantara has been back at Liverpool to speak with Andoni Iraola, which has once again raised the prospect of him returning to Anfield as part of the club's coaching staff
Liverpool Legends' midfielder Thiago Alcantara during the Legends football match between Liverpool Legends and Dortmund Legends at Anfield in Liverpool, north-west England on March 28, 2026. (Photo by PETER POWELL / AFP via Getty Images)
Thiago Alcantara has addressed the possibility of a return to Liverpool as a coach(Image: Getty Images)
Thiago Alcantara’s return to Liverpool this week has once again raised suspicions among supporters that he could be on course to join Andoni Iraola’s staff - although the former midfielder has already ruled out the possibility once.
Thiago has been back at the AXA Training Centre this week as he reunited with some of his old teammates before conducting an interview with Iraola for the club’s website.
The 35-year-old became a fans’ favorite during his four years as a player at Liverpool, which of course came after spells with Barcelona and Bayern Munich in which he established himself as one of Europe’s classiest players.
Injuries curtailed his time at Anfield before he took the decision to retire last year, but he has since turned his hand to coaching.
Thiago joined Hansi Flick’s staff at Barca last season, and helped the club win the La Liga title before he left the club again.
He was linked with a role back at Anfield during the summer after Iraola was announced as Arne Slot’s successor, amid rumors that Liverpool’s new boss was looking to add a former player to his staff.
Speaking to Rio Ferdinand in July though, Thiago ruled out the immediate prospect of becoming a coach with the Reds, saying: "No man, I don’t have the badges. I don’t have enough to be a coach."
Thiago Alcantara speaking to Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola
Thiago Alcantara has praised Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola(Image: Liverpool FC)
Three months on from that interview though, Thiago’s presence back on Merseyside has once again raised the prospect of him joining Iraola’s team, especially after praising the Liverpool boss’ abilities as a coach.
“You as a player had the most important value, which is consistency and being reliable,” Thiago told Iraola.
“And you as coach is the same, the players and the club can rely on yourself because of the way you are.”
And Thiago seems to have his heart set on a coaching career, meaning a return to Anfield could yet be in the pipeline.
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“I think it’s something born inside of me in terms of being a coach,” Thiago said during the summer.
“In my last year at Liverpool, just because I wasn’t able to play, so I was trying to help even more.
“Not being selfish in any kind of situation, just helping, being in the back of others, how I can make them grow.”
Liverpool.com says: It would be great to see Thiago returning as a coach to Liverpool. Although we didn’t get to see as much as we would’ve like of him at Anfield as a player, he showed enough to suggest that he could become a really valuable member of Iraola’s coaching staff should the opportunity arise.