When Jurgen Klopp first announced he'd hired a throw-in coach back in 2018, even the most dedicated Liverpool fans raised eyebrows. The concept seemed almost comical to traditionalists - dedicating specialist coaching to what many considered a simple restart of play.
Yet fast forward several years, and Thomas Gronnemark's appointment has proven to be one of Klopp's most inspired decisions, transforming Liverpool from throw-in strugglers to Premier League masters of the art.
The Unconventional Appointment That Raised Eyebrows
"When we brought Thomas in, people thought I'd lost the plot," Klopp recently reflected. The German manager faced considerable scepticism from pundits and supporters alike when he introduced the world's first professional throw-in coach to his backroom staff.
Gronnemark, who holds the Guinness World Record for the longest throw-in at 51.33 meters, brought a scientific approach to what many clubs treated as an afterthought. His methodology focused not just on distance, but on retention, speed, and creating scoring opportunities from seemingly dead situations.
Transforming Weakness Into Strength
Before Gronnemark's arrival, Liverpool maintained possession from throw-ins only 45.4% of the time - a statistic that placed them among the Premier League's least effective teams. Under his guidance, that figure skyrocketed to an impressive 68.4%, making the Reds one of Europe's most proficient teams at retaining possession from throw-ins.
"Most clubs lose the ball more than half the time from throw-ins," Gronnemark explained. "We turned it into an opportunity rather than a liability."
More Than Just Long Throws
While Gronnemark's world record suggests a focus on long throws into the penalty area, his philosophy is surprisingly nuanced. He categorises throws into three distinct types:
- Fast throws: Designed to maintain attacking momentum
- Long throws: Creating immediate goal-scoring opportunities
- Smart throws: Focused on possession retention under pressure
This comprehensive approach has seen Liverpool players develop specific techniques and decision-making processes that consistently wrong-foot opponents.
A Tactical Edge in Modern Football
In today's game where margins between victory and defeat are increasingly slim, Klopp recognised that every aspect of play could provide a competitive advantage. "If you have a throw-in, you should not have any disadvantage," the Liverpool manager stated, highlighting his philosophy that every moment in football presents an opportunity.
Gronnemark's impact extends beyond mere statistics. His work has influenced how Liverpool's entire squad moves and creates space during throw-ins, integrating seamlessly with Klopp's high-pressing, possession-based system.
From Laughter to Legacy
What began as a source of amusement for football traditionalists has become an integral part of Liverpool's tactical identity. Other clubs have since followed suit, recognising the value in specialist throw-in coaching, but Liverpool's pioneering approach under Klopp gave them a significant head start.
As Gronnemark himself puts it: "The throw-in is the only situation in football where you have more time to think, yet most teams use it poorly. We've changed that narrative entirely."
The success story serves as a powerful reminder that in elite sport, innovation often comes from questioning conventional wisdom and perfecting the details others overlook.
