As Andoni Iraola introduces his new coaches to Liverpool, we look back at the Reds’ previous 16 assistant managers of the Premier League era.
Arne Slot‘s assistant coaches departed with the Dutchman, leaving Iraola clear to bring his own men in to help at Anfield.
Tommy Elphick was the manager’s right-hand man at Bournemouth and arrives in the official capacity of ‘first-team coach’, as does Shaun Cooper.
Meanwhile, Pablo de la Torre has been appointed ‘assistant coach’. We expect him to lead on fitness like he did on the south coast.
Iraola has also brought with him performance analyst Tom Webber, but it should be Elphick who takes the reins from Sipke Hulshoff as Liverpool’s main assistant to the manager.
Ronnie Moran (1992-1994)
VLADIKAVKAZ, RUSSIA - Monday, September 11, 1995: Liverpool's coach Ronnie Moran training at the Republican Spartak Stadium ahead of the UEFA Cup 1st Round 1st Leg match against FC Alania Spartak Vladikavkaz. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Assistant to: Graeme Souness
Moran is a legendary figure at Liverpool and was at the club in some capacity for just short of half a century.
Having played between 1952 and 1968, he was on the coaching staff during the glory days of Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley and Kenny Dalglish, before becoming Graeme Souness‘ assistant in 1992 for his ill-fated time in charge.
He left his role when Souness was sacked in January 1994, officially retiring four years later.
Doug Livermore (1994-1998)
VLADIKAVKAZ, RUSSIA - Tuesday, September 12, 1995: Liverpool's assistant manager Doug Livermore in action against FC Alania Spartak Vladikavkaz during the UEFA Cup 1st Round 1st Leg match at the Republican Spartak Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Assistant to: Roy Evans
When Roy Evans replaced Souness in January 1994, he appointed Doug Livermore as his right-hand man. He would enjoy nearly five impressive years at Anfield, winning the League Cup in 1995.
He was part of an exciting setup that almost earned Premier League and FA Cup glory during the mid-1990s, only to fall frustratingly short.
When Gerard Houllier became joint-manager with Evans in November 1998, it was clear that the latter was slowly being ushered out of the door and Livermore followed.
Patrice Bergues (1998-2001)
Assistant to: Gerard Houllier
Patrice Bergues enjoyed three years on Merseyside under Houllier and was generally seen as a hugely important presence at the club.
As a highly respected figure, Bergues was perhaps the most important person behind the scenes during Houllier’s time at Anfield.
Robbie Fowler, who doesn’t have too many positive things to say about the staff from that era, described him as a “fantastic man”.
He left in 2001 following the Reds’ cup treble, becoming director of football at former club Lens.
Jacques Crevoisier (2001-2003)
Assistant to: Gerard Houllier
When Bergues moved on, Jacques Crevoisier joined from a job at UEFA in the summer of 2001.
His actual role in the backroom staff was always vague, but Phil Thompson still thought he played an important role:
“He was very good. He was very quiet; that was the way he did things and that was obviously the way he had come through the coaching set-up in France – and that’s why he got his chance at Liverpool.
“Jacques was a very good coach and a very good administrator as well, an absolutely terrific guy.”
Crevoisier moved on in 2003, citing ‘family reasons’ as the reason for his decision.
The Frenchman sadly passed away in 2020, aged 72.
Christian Damiano (2003-2004)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Thursday, July 10, 2003: Liverpool FC's new coach Christian Damiano at a press conference at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Assistant to: Gerard Houllier
With Crevoisier’s departure leaving a void, Christiano Damiano was brought in from Fulham to replace him, but he would only last a year on Merseyside.
He was sent packing along with Houllier when the Frenchman left in 2004, with new boss Rafa Benitez bringing his own staff with him.
Phil Thompson (1998-2004)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 5, 2003: Liverpool's manager Ge?rard Houllier and assistant Phil Thompson against Manchester United during the Premiership match at Old Trafford. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Assistant to: Roy Evans and Gerard Houllier
It’s worth stressing that, throughout Houllier’s tenure, former Liverpool player and legend Thompson was always a key part of the back-room staff, with the likes of Crevoisier and Damiano working in a fluid, modern, authoritative system.
He served as assistant manager in 2001, for example, before being relieved of his duties when Benitez arrived in 2004.
Pako Ayestaran (2004-2007)
CARDIFF, WALES - SUNDAY, AUGUST 13th, 2006: Liverpool's Pako Ayesteran congratulates Steven Gerrard (L) and Jamie Carragher after beating Chelsea during the Community Shield match at the Millennium Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Assistant to: Rafa Benitez
Pako Ayestaran enjoyed three memorable years with the Reds as a hugely popular figure at Liverpool with both players and supporters.
He joined with Benitez from Valencia in 2004, having won two La Liga titles, and would contribute to the Champions League and FA Cup triumphs in 2005 and 2006, respectively.
Sadly, his and Benitez’s relationship soured, so Ayestaran left Liverpool in 2007. After a year off, he joined Benfica as assistant manager.
Most recently, he spent four years at Aston Villa, only leaving in the summer of 2026 due to a reshuffle by Unai Emery.
Sammy Lee (2008-2010)
Assistant to: Rafa Benitez, Roy Hodgson, Kenny Dalglish
A popular player for the Reds in the 1970s and 1980s, Sammy Lee then enjoyed 11 years as a coach between 1993 and 2004.
In 2008, he replaced Ayestaran as Benitez’s second in command and almost won the Premier League title in his first season in the job.
Lee stayed on for the short reign of Hodgson and the beginning of Dalglish’s time in charge, leaving in the summer of 2011.
He went on to take multiple assistant coaching jobs with England, Crystal Palace, Southampton, West Brom and, notably, Everton.
Mike Kelly (2010)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - Sunday, September 12, 2010: Liverpool's manager Roy Hodgson and goalkeeping coach Mike Kelly during the Premiership match against Birmingham City at St Andrews. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Assistant to: Roy Hodgson
Mike Kelly doubled as Hodgson’s assistant and the club’s goalkeeper coach, having worked with the manager at Fulham and the Switzerland national team.
He left with Hodgson after just six months on Merseyside.
Steve Clarke (2011-2012)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 22, 2011: Liverpool's assistant manager Steve Clarke with manager Kenny Dalglish during the Premiership match against Aston Villa at Villa Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Assistant to: Kenny Dalglish
When Dalglish made a historic return as manager in January 2011, he immediately recruited Steve Clarke as first-team coach, later moving to assistant manager after Sammy Lee left the club that summer.
The Scot helped Liverpool win the League Cup in 2012, but his time with the Reds was set to come to an abrupt end as he resigned following the sacking of King Kenny.
Clarke became manager of West Brom and Reading in the years after and recently finished a six-year stint as Scotland boss in which he led the country to the World Cup and two European Championships.
Colin Pascoe (2012-2015)
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - Wednesday, July 16, 2014: Liverpool's manager Brendan Rodgers and assistant manager Colin Pascoe before a preseason friendly match against Brøndby IF at Brøndby Stadion. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Assistant to Brendan Rodgers
Pascoe moved to Liverpool from Swansea along with Brendan Rodgers, having been a part of the Welsh club’s march into the Premier League in 2010/2011.
Having almost clinched an incredible league title with the Reds in 2013/14, both Rodgers and Pascoe’s stock dropped significantly in the following campaign.
While the former clung onto his job as manager, Pascoe was sacked in the summer of 2015 and was replaced in the role by Sean O’Driscoll.
Sean O’Driscoll (2015)
BORDEAUX, FRANCE - Wednesday, September 16, 2015: Liverpool's assistant manager Sean O'Driscoll and manager Brendan Rodgers during a training session ahead of the UEFA Europa League Group Stage Group B match against FC Girondins de Bordeaux at the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Assistant to: Brendan Rodgers
O’Driscoll didn’t last long at Liverpool, assisting Rodgers for just eight Premier League matches before the pair left ahead of Jurgen Klopp‘s arrival.
The coach then took on roles as Walsall manager and Oldham assistant manager, as well as academy roles at Wolves and Portsmouth.
His last job was director of football at Weymouth FC.
Zeljko Buvac (2015-2018)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, April 23, 2018: Liverpool's assistant manager Zeljko Buvac during a training session at Melwood Training Ground ahead of the UEFA Champions League Semi-Final 1st Leg match between Liverpool FC and AS Roma. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Assistant to: Jurgen Klopp
Described as ‘the brains’ behind Jurgen Klopp, Zeljko Buvac was the German’s assistant at Mainz and Borussia Dortmund ahead of his stint at Liverpool.
He helped build the team that would dominate but didn’t stay to reap the rewards of his work, leaving suddenly in 2018 due to so-called ‘personal reasons’.
In reality, it is believed there was a breakdown in the relationship between the Buvac and Klopp, with the former even saying he didn’t congratulate Klopp on his Premier League triumph in 2020.
Pep Lijnders (2018-2024)
LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 27, 2024: Liverpool's Jürgen Klopp (R) and first-team development coach Pepijn Lijnders during the FA Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Liverpool FC at the London Stadium. The game ended in a 2-2 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Assistant to: Jurgen Klopp
While Pep Lijnders has somewhat soured his legacy among Liverpool fans by joining Man City to assist Pep Guardiola in his final year at the Etihad, the Dutchman is still a highly-rated coach in the football world.
Lijnders joined the Reds in 2015 and worked his way through the ranks before leaving to manage NEC Nijmegen. He lasted just five months there, though, so returned to Liverpool with Buvac no longer in the picture.
Klopp gave Lijnders lots of responsibility at the club, with the assistant even taking some League Cup press conferences. He took to the role like a natural and was even some people’s pick to take over from Klopp in 2024.
Instead, he became Red Bull Salzburg manager but again failed, lasting five months in Austria before being dismissed.
Sipke Hulshoff (2024-2026)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - New Year's Day, Thursday, January 1, 2026: Liverpool's first assistant coach Sipke Hulshoff during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Assistant to: Arne Slot
Sipke Hulshoff was Arne Slot‘s man to lean on at Anfield. He often worked closely with players, working with them one-to-one and in small groups.
A big adopter of technology on the training pitch, he helped guide Liverpool to the title in 2025 before things started to go wrong.
Interestingly, Hulshoff has split from Slot since the pair left Anfield, with the assistant now helping fellow former Reds coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst in his new role as Feyenoord manager.