New Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola is set to be joined by two of his former Bouremouth assistants as Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper edge closer to Anfield moves.
The Spaniard was always tipped to look to his former club for coaching lieutenants given the success they’d enjoyed at the Vitality Stadium, and the wheels are in motion for them to head to Liverpool.
Sky Sports reports that the pair of Bournemouth coaches have agreed terminations to their contracts in Dorset and that their deals with Liverpool will be signed this weekend.
The Cherries had been hoping that Elphick and Cooper would be part of Marco Rose’s coaching staff for next season, but that will no longer be the case and the new head coach is already bringing a number of assistants with him.
Elphick, who is a boyhood Liverpool fan, also turned down an approach from Bristol City to become their head coach this summer, underlining his desire to team up with Iraola once again.
Iraola confirmed that he would be leaving Bournemouth midway through the campaign, calling time on his three year stint on the south coast. The Cherries impressed year on year whilst he was at the helm and in his final season the Spaniard led them into Europe for the first time.
His exploits coincided with Arne Slot’s demise and a poor second year in charge ultimately cost the Dutch coach his job. Liverpool wasted no time in turning to Iraola after a campaign that saw them go from champions to fifth – despite an outlay of more than £400million on new players.
At Anfield Iraola will reunite with Milos Kerkez, who was one of Liverpool’s signings 12 months ago, and the highly-rated boss now has the chance to prove himself at an elite club.
View 2 ImagesTommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper are set to join their former boss
He said upon being appointed: “Really excited, really excited because obviously you know about Liverpool, you know that it’s a big club, a massive club, one of the biggest in the world. But feeling inside and understanding a little bit more of this club, I always thought it’s a special club.
“You don’t need a lot of things to get attracted by Liverpool. Liverpool is Liverpool. But obviously the atmosphere, the supporters, the club, the players, the chance for me to coach top-level players, the chance to fight for titles. I think it cannot be more attractive than this. It’s difficult to find it. So, really excited to start.”
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