Liverpool to lose long-serving coach who recommended one of Jürgen Klopp's best ever signings

It is going to be a summer of change at Liverpool as Jürgen Klopp ends his nine-year tenure. The German will be followed out of Anfield by No.2 Pep Lijnders, as well as coaches Vitor Matos and Peter Krawietz.

Klopp's backroom team has been key to Liverpool's success, with incoming boss Arne Slot having to make some key additions to the coaching staff. He is set to be joined by assistant Sipke Hulshoff, who also holds the same role with the Dutch national side.

Another role may also need to be filled, with The Athletic reporting that John Achterberg will leave at the end of the season, having been at the club for 15 years.

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Achterberg was promoted to the first team under Sir Kenny Dalglish and has been part of the backroom staff ever since under Brendan Rodgers and now Klopp. He is said to have a great relationship with the departing German boss.

Klopp was forced to defend Achterberg after he was criticized during difficult runs for Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius, calling him a 'goalkeeper maniac'. He told the Liverpool ECHO: "He is working constantly, developing, changing programs.

"John is the first in the building and the last to leave. No matter how early I get into Melwood, I get up the stairs and he's already there with the laptop open watching goalkeepers from the other end of the world."

That work paid off when Achterberg identified Alisson Becker and recommended him to Klopp as a potential signing from AS Roma, reports The Guardian. He cost the Reds $80m (£65m/€75m) but has gone on to become one of the best goalkeepers in the world at Liverpool

The Brazilian has previously revealed Achterberg deserves a lot of credit for his rise. Speaking to Liverpool's official website, he said: "John has proved to be not just a great goalkeeping coach but a great guy, a great person.

“He leaves me very calm and relaxed on a day-to-day basis and we learn from each other’s work. I’ve pointed out some areas that contribute to his work and likewise he has helped me with things I can improve in on the pitch. I believe the relationship between a goalkeeper and the goalkeeping coach needs to be an exchange, with a great deal of trust."

Achterberg was promoted to head of Liverpool's goalkeeping department in 2021. Ex-Brazil stopper Claudio Taffarel arrived in a hands-on coaching role and has worked closely with Alisson and Caoimhín Kelleher this season.

Liverpool.com says: Achterberg is clearly someone who is respected by his fellow coaches and Liverpool players, most notably Alisson. The pair have worked together for the last six years and that has seen Alisson become one of the very best. He will be missed at Anfield after his impressive legacy.