Unsung heroes of Liverpool's title win: A barista, their third-choice goalkeeper, Ronald Koeman and more
A growing trend for trophy winners is to squeeze as many staff, playing and non-playing, as possible into a group picture.
Liverpool shared their version after the final game of the season last Sunday, with employees from various departments crammed in on either side of the squad for a widescreen shot that covered the full width of the penalty area in front of Anfield's Kop stand.
WHAT A TEAM 😍 pic.twitter.com/NZkxP2LRwF
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 25, 2025
The point of such photos is to highlight the 'team behind the team' and share the success around, no matter how big or small the contribution by a given individual or group.
But who are the real unsung heroes of Liverpool's triumphant 2024-25 season? We all know about Arne Slot's tactical masterplans, Mohamed Salah's dozens of goals and assists, Virgil van Dijk's evergreen form in defence and goalkeeper Alisson's commanding presence, but what about the other people who contributed?
Here's an early clue: you won't find them all in the team picture above. Some are wacky, others more dignified. Regardless, let The Athletic guide you through them…
For those who don't know the name, Alguacil is the departing head coach at Spanish club Real Sociedad, and a man who had a significant impact on Liverpool's transfer plans last summer.
What might have happened had Alguacil not played such an important role in convincing Slot's top target Martin Zubimendi to shun Anfield and stay around San Sebastian? Would Ryan Gravenberch have made such giant strides as a holding midfielder this season? And would the ever-reliable Alexis Mac Allister have played so often?
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Zubimendi's decision to remain at his hometown club became a blessing in disguise.
Alguacil tugged on the heartstrings of the Spain international by reminding him that, as a keen hiker, he had the perfect life in the shadows of Mount Ulia and should consider that when weighing up the offer to leave. He told him he would miss the Basque Country's eateries and reminded him of an interview he gave to Spanish TV where he promised to stay at the club.
What followed his rejection in the midfield department at Liverpool was sensational. Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai stepped up their games and, given the levels of those already at the club, it's hard to see how Zubimendi would have dramatically improved things.
Missing out on Zubimendi brings us nicely onto Endo, perhaps the most obvious choice in the unsung hero category.
A more talented fifth-choice midfielder might have given Liverpool additional options, perhaps when that Champions League round-of-16 clash with PSG was so tight. But would any player have been so disciplined and reliable as Endo? Not once did he kick up a fuss about his lack of game time and rarely did he flinch when called upon, often to see out games late on.
His preparation was so thorough and detailed that he was ready for every opportunity, even if it was only for a few minutes at a time. And let's not forget that Liverpool didn't drop a single point in the minutes Endo played as a substitute before the title was wrapped up. At age 32, he may not be the answer in the future but he was the best fifth-choice midfielder possible.
He makes good coffee and knows which music to select for each player. Enough for a winner's medal, surely?
Alex, whose surname remains a mystery, does not do interviews and would not be recognised by most Liverpool fans if he walked past them in the street, is the guy who has enhanced the coffee-bar culture at the Kirkby training ground.
A post shared by Liverpool Football Club (@liverpoolfc)
The area, installed this season, became a hub of activity for players, including Salah, Szoboszlai and Jones, during the season and helped strengthen team spirit. Slot also praised the setup early on, saying: 'If you have a coffee bar and someone is working there who doesn't bring the right vibe, then it probably doesn't work as well. I have to give a big compliment to the one who's leading the coffee bar, Alex. He always gives the right vibe.'
Eighteen, the number of minutes (including stoppages) he played in his sole top-flight appearance, was the defining number of Jaros' Premier League season. But if you feel that was his only contribution, think again.
Jaros provided vital cover for Liverpool when Alisson was injured between October and December, and No 2 goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher had to step in and hold the fort. Having a third-choice 'keeper of such a high standard is rare, even at a club of Liverpool's stature, but new sporting director Richard Hughes insisted the talented 23-year-old Czech stuck around this season as there were concerns over Alisson's fitness record heading into it.
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Liverpool had loaned Jaros out during each of the previous four seasons but Hughes wanted guaranteed cover at the position in case Alisson and Kelleher ended up being out at the same time. Such deep planning was rewarded just seven league games in, away to Crystal Palace.
Kelleher was ill so wasn't in the matchday squad that day, and Jaros was still doing his stretches when he had to replace an injured Alisson on 79 minutes. A dominant performance — first saving well from Eberechi Eze, then keeping out Jean-Philippe Mateta — helped Liverpool keep a clean sheet in their 1-0 win when the title race was still wide open and the pressure was on.
Jaros wanted to go on loan again this season after helping Sturm Graz win the Austrian league and cup double last year, but he stuck around to play a vital part (albeit only for a short window). He also made one of the saves of the season when he denied Simon Adingra in the 3-2 Carabao Cup win over Brighton & Hove Albion later in October.
It is expected he'll be granted a loan move to a club in one of Europe's 'Big Five' leagues next season.
A former Everton manager helping Liverpool to the title? OK, hear us out on this one.
We're considering Koeman to be an indirect unsung hero for his decision-making around Cody Gakpo last summer.
When Slot was getting stuck into background checks on some of the players he'd inherited from Jurgen Klopp, he also happened to be watching fellow Dutchman Gakpo shine as their national team got to the semi-finals of last summer's European Championship.
After a stop-start season under Klopp, who used Gakpo at positions including centre-forward, left-side forward and attacking midfielder, Netherlands coach Koeman restored him to his old role as a left-winger. That was the position Slot had already worked out might be the best option for the former PSV man under him at Liverpool, but it needed rubber-stamping, and his performances at the Euros did that.
Gakpo had a huge impact during a blistering run of form between November and February, scoring eight goals and setting up three more in a 13-game period where the platform for Liverpool's title win was created.
There's a catchy song that Liverpool fans used to motivate their players just when they needed an extra push early this calendar year, and Aspinall was the man to come up with it.
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'Liverbird upon my chest' is the soundtrack to their triumphant 2024-25 season but it's not new.
Regular Anfield match-goer Aspinall was watching The Green Berets, a 1968 movie starring John Wayne set during the Vietnam War, on TV the night before a match in 1984.
'As the film finished, they played 'Ballad of the Green Berets' and I thought, 'That would be a terrific song for Liverpool',' the 74-year-old told The Athletic this year. 'I wrote the song down, so it wouldn't slip my mind. The words more or less fitted in place perfectly, with the chorus at the end. That's how the song got going.'
Kudos to you, because it helped spark an even greater backing from Aspinall's supporters at a crucial point in the season.
Slot may be the front-facing figure, but he couldn't have done this without his support team.
His trusted right-hand man, Sipke Hulshoff, proved to be the perfect ally, always knowing when he needed a second opinion or guidance.
Ruben Peeters helped reduce the injury list through his performance-coaching expertise, Aaron Briggs brought fresh ideas and an improvement in set-piece routines towards the second half of the season while Johnny Heitinga added Premier League experience, having played for Everton and Fulham and been an assistant at West Ham.
Each one is an unsung hero in their own right.
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