LFC Live - Former Liverpool favourite Thiago Alcantara set for new role with Champions League rival

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Former Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Former Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara is set to rejoin Barcelona as an assistant coach to Hansi Flick.

The 34-year-old retired from football after departing Anfield in 2024 and spent a single month on the German's staff before leaving.

Now, Fabrizio Romano reports that Thiago has agreed to become a coach at Barca one year on from his rapid departure.

He will start with 'immediate effect', linking up with La Liga's reigning champions as they prepare for their first fixture after the September international break against Valencia.

The Spaniard's illustrious playing career saw him win trophies with Barca, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, and the Spanish national team over 16 years.

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Graduating from the famous La Masia academy of Barca, Thiago won four Spanish league titles and one Champions League before moving to Bayern.

His time in Germany was his most successful, winning a further seven domestic titles and another Champions League across seven years.

This meant there was great excitement when he signed for Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool in the months that followed the club's Premier League title success in 2020.

Following his £25m transfer, Thiago went on to make 98 appearances in English football.

He recorded three goals and six assists, adding FA Cup and Carabao Cup winners' medals to his collection.

But Reds fans were left wanting more from Thiago by the time it came for his contract to end, as he barely kicked a ball during his final season at Liverpool due to troublesome injuries that eventually forced his decision to retire last year.

He was not ready to give up entirely, however, and rejoined Barca as a coach under their new manager Flick last August.

Thiago explained: "I had the chance to get into football again, helping the coaching staff of Barcelona.

"I decided for the practical part, not for the theory – just because of the experience I had doing all these years in football and the kind of role I had in the team.

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