Latest news with #JürgenKlopp
Times
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Times
Harvey Elliott: I can't waste my best years on the bench at Liverpool
Harvey Elliott has said that he may need to leave Liverpool to avoid 'wasting' the best years of his career. Elliott made 28 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions this season, but all but six of those were as a substitute. He started three times in the domestic cups, once in the Champions League, after Liverpool had secured qualification to the knockout phase, and twice in the Premier League after Liverpool had wrapped up the title. Last season, under Jürgen Klopp, Elliott played 53 matches and started on 27 occasions. With the club closing in on signing Florian Wirtz, the Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder, for a fee in excess of £113million, Elliott may find regular minutes even more difficult to come by next season. 'I think it's just a situation that me and the team on my behalf have to have a conversation about because I'm coming into an age now where I'm 22, I'm going to be 23 next season and I don't really want to be wasting years because it's a short career,' Elliott said. 'You don't know what's going to happen. 'Touch wood it doesn't — but [with] injuries and things — it could shorten. I think it's a situation that I need to reflect on. I need to see if I'm content in doing what I'm doing and how can I improve as a player because that's the most important thing. 'I just want to improve and be the best possible version of myself and the best player I can be. If that's to go somewhere else, then it's a decision that I'm going to have to make and I just need to see what happens.' Elliott, a boyhood Liverpool fan who was born in Surrey, joined the club from Fulham's academy aged 16 in 2019. The Professional Football Compensation Committee ruled that Liverpool needed to pay a guaranteed compensation fee of £1.5million, with a potential £2.8million in add-ons. Fulham have a 20 per cent sell-on clause. 'Nothing makes me want to leave. I love the club, I love the fans, the team. I support them as well. But as I said, most importantly, it's just about what's best for my career. I just need to make that decision,' Elliott added, as he explained it was challenging showing Arne Slot, the head coach, that he was taking feedback on board without regular minutes. 'Everything that he told me I took in my stride, I took it on board and I tried to improve on it,' Elliott said. 'I think it's always hard when you're not really in the team to be able to show that you've worked on them.' Elliott spoke shortly before England Under-21 travelled to Slovakia to begin their European Championship defence. The attacking midfielder is one of the most senior players in the squad, with 22 caps, and England's top scorer in qualifying with seven goals. Just over a year ago, Elliott was hoping to make Gareth Southgate's senior squad for the Euros, but a lack of first-team minutes meant he had fallen behind his peers and is still to earn his first cap. His season high-point came as he scored the winning goal against the eventual Champions League winners, Paris Saint-Germain, in the first-leg of their round-of-16 tie. 'I thought PSG was kind of a high for me, especially with the Premier League game coming up a few days later,' he said. 'I thought maybe it was an opportunity for me to get a start and to showcase what I can do and just get a nice run out. But the boss is the boss. 'He's the man in charge. He's the reason why we've won the league, because of his decisions. His decisions were not to start me. I can't complain.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Former Liverpool assistant lands managerial role
Vitor Matos Secures New Job at Maritimo Amid Liverpool Shake-Up Matos begins senior management journey in Portugal Liverpool's backroom overhaul has taken another turn as former Elite Development Coach Vitor Matos lands a first-team coaching role at Maritimo, marking his first move into senior management. The 36-year-old Portuguese coach will take the reins at the Liga Portugal 2 side, as confirmed by transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano. Advertisement Matos, who joined Liverpool in October 2019, was a pivotal figure under Jürgen Klopp, tasked primarily with bridging the gap between the academy and senior side. However, his remit expanded steadily, becoming a consistent presence in the dugout during Liverpool's domestic and European campaigns. 'Vitor Matos has landed himself a first-team job,' Romano stated, signalling a fresh chapter for the coach who departed Anfield alongside Klopp in June 2024. Ljinders heads to City while French follows Vitor Matos isn't the only former Klopp lieutenant stepping into a new challenge. Pep Ljinders, another trusted assistant, has agreed terms to become assistant manager at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola. It's a high-profile switch that further underlines the esteem Klopp's staff are held in across elite European football. Advertisement Joining Ljinders at the Etihad will be James French, the analyst who also left Liverpool at the end of the 2023/24 campaign. Their double arrival adds to an increasingly familiar pattern: ex-Liverpool staff continuing their journeys at top clubs across Europe. Downing returns to Liverpool in scouting capacity Amid the exodus, there have been arrivals too. Stewart Downing, who made 91 appearances for Liverpool between 2011 and 2013, has returned in a new guise — this time as a global talent scout. The 40-year-old will report to chief scout Barry Hunter as the Reds look to strengthen their talent acquisition strategy in under-tapped markets such as South America and Eastern Europe. The appointment is part of a broader effort to modernise and internationalise the club's recruitment framework under new head coach Arne Slot. Lewtas departs after 12 years of youth development Another notable exit is Barry Lewtas, who confirmed his departure after more than a decade in Liverpool's academy. Having led the U21s and played a central role in nurturing a generation of talent, Lewtas leaves behind a strong legacy at Kirkby. Advertisement His departure marks the end of an era, as the club looks to integrate new coaching philosophies under Slot's watch. Lewtas' influence spanned a transformative period for the academy, seeing players such as Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, and Jarell Quansah rise through the ranks. Heitinga leaves, returning to Ajax after brief stint Arne Slot's arrival also coincides with the departure of John Heitinga, who has opted to rejoin Ajax following a brief spell at Liverpool. The former Netherlands international is hoping to play a central role in the revival of the Dutch giants, who dramatically lost the Eredivisie title to PSV Eindhoven after surrendering a nine-point lead. His decision to return to Ajax reflects a broader theme of change and opportunity, with Liverpool's former coaching core now dispersed across Europe — but still leaving their mark.
Times
29-05-2025
- Business
- Times
Manchester City consider signing former Liverpool assistant manager
The former Liverpool assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders is under consideration to join Pep Guardiola's backroom staff at Manchester City. Lijnders left Anfield at the same time as Jürgen Klopp 12 months ago, and took over as head coach at Red Bull Salzburg. However, he was sacked in December after a difficult start to the season and has been on gardening leave since. Lijnders, 42, was interviewed by Norwich City for the vacancy at the Championship club before they opted to go for Bristol City's Liam Manning. The link with City comes as the club look to revamp their coaching staff after the departures of Guardiola's assistants Juanma Lillo and Iñigo Domínguez, whose contracts have expired. In addition, Carlos Vicens has left to become head coach at Portuguese side SC Braga. Lijnders had two spells working under Klopp, punctuated by a brief tenure in charge of NEC Nijmegen, and was championed by the German coach who won the Champions League and Premier League during his nine-year reign at Liverpool. As well as Lijnders, City are weighing up a promotion for Kolo Touré, who returned to the club last season as assistant under-18 coach. Touré, 44, spent four years as a player at the Etihad, winning the Premier League, and coached under Brendan Rodgers at Celtic and Leicester City before a short-lived spell at Wigan Athletic. The under-21 manager, Ben Wilkinson, and his assistant Craig Mudd will step up to the seniors for the Club World Cup in the USA next month. Luis Díaz has become the latest Liverpool player to attract interest from Saudi Arabia, with Al-Nassr monitoring his situation. The Colombia forward enjoyed a good season as Arne Slot's side won the Premier League title, scoring 13 goals and providing seven assists when deployed either through the middle as a No9 or from the left wing. Diaz, who turned 28 in January, has two years remaining on his contract and so far there has been no move by the club to broker an extension. Barcelona have also been following Díaz, although the the Catalan club also have an interest in Manchester United's Marcus Rashford. Al-Nassr are looking to persuade Cristiano Ronaldo to stay but there are suggestions he could move to Al-Hilal for the Club World Cup. Al-Hilal have also been linked with the Liverpool striker Darwin Núñez, whose future at Anfield is more uncertain than that of Díaz given that he ended the season on the periphery of Slot's plans. Liverpool are planning to spend heavily in the transfer market this summer with negotiations ongoing for a club-record deal for Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz, while a £30million agreement for his team-mate Jeremie Frimpong is close to being announced. There is also interest in the Bournemouth left back Milos Kerkez, who is valued at £45million by his club, and other positions, meaning there will be focus on raising money through sales.
Daily Mail
29-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Liverpool transfer news: The Premier League star set to follow Florian Wirtz to Anfield, why Reds have huge warchest to spend and the TWELVE stars who could leave
The wait for No 20 is over and Liverpool are Premier League champions again. But the chase for No 21 starts now and Liverpool have already gotten a huge headstart on their rivals.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Klopp 'shocked' by Liverpool incident after making trip for parade
Former Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp has expressed his sadness after a car drove into a crowd of fans celebrating the club's Premier League title. The German had travelled to Liverpool to witness Monday's open top bus parade, having missed the chance to properly celebrate their 2020 title while he was coach due to coronavirus restrictions. He wrote on Instagram on Tuesday: "My family and I are shocked and devastated. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who are injured and affected. You'll Never Walk Alone." Four people are still "very, very ill in hospital" after the incident, the city's metro mayor has said. Around a million fans were estimated to be on the streets of the city centre. The incident, which is at yet unexplained, happened towards the end of the title party. Police said a 53-year-old male suspect in custody is thought to be the driver of the car, white, British and from the Liverpool area, and added that it was not being treated as terrorism. FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in a statement: "Football stands together with Liverpool FC and all fans of the club following the horrific incident that has taken place during the trophy parade in the city. "From everyone at FIFA, we offer our thoughts and prayers to all those affected." Rival clubs and many more across the football world have shown solidarity with Liverpool.
