Liverpool goalkeeping overhaul underway as FSG make SIGNIFICANT new appointment

Hans Leitert has been appointed as Fenway Sports Group’s new Head of Global Goalkeeping in another significant backroom change led by Michaed Edwards. 

Leitert, 51, has previously worked as a goalkeeping consultant with Liverpool, coming on board to work with Loris Karius and Simon Mignolet - among others - back in 2018. 

He spent five years with the Red Bull football operation as Head of Goalkeeping, responsible for the goalkeeping department at RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg, New York Red Bulls, Red Bull Brasil (now Red Bull Bragantino) and the now defunct Red Bull Ghana.

FSG’s recruitment of the former goalkeeper is another step on the road towards the establishment of a multi-club ownership model, at the centre of which will be Liverpool. 

Edwards, on his return to the FSG umbrella, detailed that the multi-club model would be crucial going forward and has already recruited Pedro Marques as director of football development to assist in that empire-building programme. 

Leitert to find new GK coach

Leitert’s day-to-day work won’t only involve Liverpool but one of his first tasks will be to find a replacement for John Achterberg, who has left Anfield after 15 years as head goalkeeping coach. 

Also leaving is his assistant Jack Robinson with Finn Jyri Nieminen, who worked under Arne Slot at Feyenoord, one of the names previously linked as a possible Liverpool arrival. 

Leitert was a goalkeeper for Austria’s under-18 and under-21 sides before a wrist injury ended his playing career. He started coaching in his home country, working his way up from VfB Modling to Rapid Vienna and Austria Vienna and the national under-21 set-up. 

Leitert also worked with Panathinaikos and Recreativo de Huelva before a stint at Tottenham under Juande Ramos back in 2008. 

Klopp played down Leitert role

Upon his recruitment by Liverpool back in 2018, Jurgen Klopp played down suggestions that Leitert would be the club's new head of goalkeeping amid a spell of poor form on the part of Karius.

"Giving advice for the scouting department, nothing else," he said at the time. "It's not like he makes any decisions, he can't.

"Goalkeeping is his special position and I think it makes sense that in the scouting department we have somebody who is responsible for that.

"But it is not about him coming in and saying 'I've found it - this is our new No 1'. We have a lot of goalkeepers at the club in different age groups and that is what his job is first of all.

"The man responsible for goalkeeping training with the first team is John Achterberg and head of scouting we have other people.

"He [Leitert] brings in all the information he can get, but that is all."

Liverpool goalkeeping overhaul

Liverpool’s goalkeeping department is set for a significant overhaul this summer with Caoimhin Kelleher expected to leave, citing a desire to become a No.1 elsewhere. 

Adrian San Miguel, meanwhile, is out of contract while Alisson Becker is known to be ‘open’ to a move to the Saudi Pro League. 

The Reds have been linked with moves for Filip Jorgensen, Anthony Patterson, James Trafford and Alex McCarthy, among others.