Liverpool have confirmed that three of Arne Slot's backroom staff have left the club following the Dutchman's dismissal and the appointment of Andoni Iraola as head coach. Sipke Hulshoff, Ruben Peeters, and Giovanni van Bronckhorst have all been relieved of their duties as Iraola seeks to bring in his own team.
Departures Follow Slot's Sacking
The trio worked under Slot at Anfield but the decision was made to refresh the coaching staff after Iraola's arrival. Hulshoff, who served as first assistant coach, and lead physical performance coach Peeters both played key roles in Liverpool's Premier League title win during Slot's first season. Van Bronckhorst, who joined last summer, lasted only 12 months at the club before being moved on.
Iraola is expected to bring in his own personnel, with reports suggesting he wants to bring Tommy Elphick, a Liverpool fan, from Bournemouth.
Underwhelming Season Led to Changes
Slot and his staff ultimately paid the price for a disappointing campaign that saw Liverpool drop from first to fifth place in the Premier League, despite spending over £400 million in the summer transfer window, including breaking the British transfer record twice. The Dutchman struggled to solve persistent issues that threatened the team's Champions League qualification for a period.
When Slot was dismissed, a club statement read: "We have collectively come to the conclusion that change is necessary in order for the club to keep moving forward. Again, it must be stressed that this is not a decision which has been reached lightly, anything but."
The former Feyenoord boss had expressed confidence he would remain in his role but acknowledged the decision was not his. Plans were in place for him to stay, including the expected arrival of Feyenoord assistant Etienne Reijnen, who now faces uncertainty.
Iraola Looks to Build on Bournemouth Success
Iraola will aim to further enhance the reputation he built at the Vitality Stadium. After arriving as a relatively unknown figure, the former Bournemouth manager led the club to a sixth-place finish, securing European football for the first time in their history.
Upon his appointment, Iraola said: "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."
