Thiago Alcantara offers update on coaching career with verdict on Liverpool job

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Liverpool FC NewsFeaturesThiago AlcântaraThiago Alcantara was rumoured to be in line for a coaching position at Anfield under Andoni Iraola but the Spaniard has quashed speculation with an honest admission.Former Liverpool star Thiago Alcantara(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)Thiago Alcantara has poured cold water on rumours linking him with a return to Liverpool as a first-team coach.The Spaniard was recently mooted as a potential option for new manager Andoni Iraola to name him as part of his backroom staff in the new regime. It was a rumour which captured the imagination of Reds' supporters who rushed to social media to discuss the possibility.But Alcantara has revealed in an interview with Rio Ferdinand on his YouTube channel that he is unable to take any sort of role at Anfield because he does not have the required qualifications as yet.A Uefa Pro License is necessary to coach or manage in England's top flight and Alcantara has not yet worked his way towards that yet.And when specifically asked by Rio: "When the Liverpool job came up, were you interested or not?", Thiago was honest over the situation.He simply replied: "No man, I don’t have the badges.

I don’t have enough to be a coach."Thiago's lack of license would prevent him working behind the scenes on the training pitch for any senior club in the United Kingdom right now.Andoni Iraola is adding to his staff(Image: Getty Images)This is part of the rules of the game in this country and is a main reason why some work permits are denied.Infamously, Etienne Reijnen was initially set to become former Liverpool manager Arne Slot's assistant at Anfield in 2024 before he was refused.And after he finally completed his Uefa A License he was poised to join up with the Dutchman only for Slot to be sacked at the end of last season.Alcantara, 35, did circumvent the rules in La Liga when he worked for Barcelona under boss Hansi Flick as a coach. Rather, he was officially employed in a training ground mentorship position which was sanctioned.Should a work permit be granted in that case, Liverpool could potentially go down the same route, though Alcantara would not be permitted to sit on the bench with the rest of the staff until he earns his badges.It does, however, seem to be something the Spaniard is working hard towards as he explained he has always felt like a coach even when he was not playing often in his days at Anfield.“I think it’s something born inside of me in terms of being a coach," he added.

“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.”Choose Liverpool.com as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.Thiago AlcântaraAndoni IraolaLiverpool FC