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Liverpool have confirmed two key first-team coaching appointments.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst will join the Premier League champions as assistant coach, stepping into the void left by John Heitinga’s departure last month.

The former Netherlands international arrives with a wealth of experience at the highest level after spells with Arsenal and Barcelona during his playing career.

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Van Bronckhorst also has front-line coaching knowledge from stints with Feyenoord, where he won the Eredivisie title in 2016/17, as well as Rangers and Besiktas.

Joining the 50-year-old in making the move to Merseyside is Xavi Valero, who will rejoin the club he left 15 years ago following Rafael Benitez’s sacking as manager.

Valero, 52, originally arrived in 2007 as goalkeeping coach before serving as part of Benitez’s backroom staff with Inter Milan, Chelsea, Napoli and Real Madrid.

He has spent the previous seven years working with West Ham but returns to the Reds to take up a role as their new head of first-team goalkeeping coaching.

The Spaniard’s homecoming coincides with Arne Slot’s goalkeeping coaches Fabian Otte and Claudio Taffarel departing ahead of the new campaign.

Otte only joined Liverpool last summer as part of a new-look setup, having worked with the United States’ national team, Burnley and Borussia Monchengladbach.

World Cup winner Taffarel, meanwhile, departs following a four-year association with Anfield hwich began under Slot’s predecessor Jurgen Klopp in 2021.

The Brazil legend’s time working with the club’s goalkeepers including compatriot Alisson saw them win the Premier League, the FA Cup and two Carabao Cups.

Meanwhile, Jarell Quansah has completed his move to Bayer Leverkusen.

Quansah was part of England’s triumphant Euro under-21 Championship run this summer but found first-team opportunities for Liverpool limited last season.

He featured just 13 times in all competitions after failing to dislodge the club’s established centre-back partnership of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.

Liverpool could net up to £35 million from the homegrown defender’s departure.


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