New Liverpool arrival swapping RUGBY for football

It’s been a year of change around Liverpool with Arne Slot arriving as head coach, replacing Jurgen Klopp who departed after nine years in charge.

Several of Klopp’s backroom team have also left the club with the likes of Pep Lijnders and Vitor Matos joining Red Bull Salzburg, where they are soon to be reunited with Klopp.

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Klopp’s trusted deputy Peter Krawietz also left the club as did goalkeeping coach John Achterberg - now working alongside Steven Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq - and head of fitness and conditioning Andreas Kornmayer.

There are plenty of new faces around the club these days including assistant head coach Sipke Hulshoff, lead physical performance coach Ruben Peeters and John Heitinga, now on Liverpool’s coaching staff having played previously for Everton.

Edwards leading new Liverpool era

Another former Feyenoord employee, video analyst Roderick van der Ham, meanwhile, has been heavily tipped for a role at Anfield soon after leaving the Rotterdam side. Aaron Briggs came in after leaving Manchester City as elite development coach while Fabian Otte replaced Achterberg as goalkeeping coach.

Leading these new appointments in the post-Klopp era is FSG’s CEO of Football Michael Edwards and new Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes. Technical director Julian Ward has also returned to the club and director of football development Pedro Marques is also now in place with one eye on the Reds’ global expansion.

David Breen appointed by Liverpool

And now one more backroom position has been filled with the installation of first-team rehabilitation therapist David Breen.

The 39-year-old Irishman is a former intercounty hurler with Limerick, winning an All-Ireland title with his club side Na Piarsaigh in 2016.

His work in physiotherapy has previously brought him to several elite sports organisations including first-team physio roles at rugby sides Wasps and Harlequins as well as Munster in his native Ireland.

Breen has also been previously involved with Manchester City’s academy structures as well as the Irish men’s national team, where he has worked with Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.

Na Piarsaigh congratulated Breen on his new role earlier this week, describing him as the 'signing of the season’.

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