I had no choice but to retire after leaving Liverpool - Jurgen Klopp helped me decide what to do next

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“It wasn’t difficult because of what would come next, but because I had to let go of something I was in love with, due to circumstances beyond my control.“It was difficult, but I had to find that peace with myself, that acceptance and pride for the career I had.”Thiago is now back at Barcelona, having re-joined his former club as one of Hansi Flick’s assistant coaches last month. I am very didactic; I want to help a lot, and can direct my talent towards making a real difference in the lives of other athletes.“The ball will always be present in my life; it will just be different now.

It is about giving that ball a place within a football team or within football in general.“I have fulfilled the dream I had all my life, which was to be a football player, but my other dream continues. Looking back on his time playing under Jurgen Klopp for the Reds, the veteran admits it was the German who first told him he would become a coach in the future.“My time at Liverpool encompassed everything I look for in a club and everything I’d always loved,” he said.

What I took from Jurgen is the intensity that derives from running, passing and being well positioned.“I could make a long list of all the coaches who have been beneficial throughout my life: Pep Guardiola, Hansi Flick, Luis Enrique, Carlo Ancelotti, Jurgen Klopp, Jupp Heynckes.“I felt the benefit particularly towards the end of my playing days. I don’t know if it was because Jurgen had seen my grey hairs, or because we used part of the time we had on the pitch to talk and lead, but it was Jurgen who told me I was going to be a coach.”