Thiago Alcântara back at Liverpool? I absolutely love the sound of that.
According to Paul Joyce, the former Reds midfielder is set to join Liverpool’s coaching staff in November, returning to Anfield after his recent spell working with Barcelona.
And I think this could turn out to be a really smart move.
Thiago might not have played anywhere near as many games for Liverpool as we would have liked, largely because of injuries, but there was never any doubt about his ability or understanding of football.
When he was fit, he was a special player to watch.
And now Liverpool could be about to benefit from that footballing brain in a completely different way.
Thiago understands what top-level football looks like
Thiago spent four seasons at Liverpool between 2020 and 2024, making 98 appearances and winning the FA Cup and League Cup. He arrived after winning the Champions League with Bayern Munich, having previously played for Barcelona.
Just think about the managers he learned from during his playing career.
Pep Guardiola. Jürgen Klopp. Carlo Ancelotti. Luis Enrique. Hansi Flick.
That’s an extraordinary collection of footballing influences.
Thiago experienced different tactical approaches, different dressing rooms and different ways of preparing teams to win.
He also played alongside some of the best footballers of his generation.
You don’t need to have played hundreds of games for Liverpool to understand how valuable that experience could be around a training ground.
And if he can pass even some of that knowledge on to Liverpool’s younger players, his return could be hugely beneficial.
I particularly like the idea of him working with Liverpool’s midfielders
This is where I get excited.
Thiago was never simply a player who passed the ball sideways and kept possession for the sake of it.
He could dictate the tempo, receive the ball under pressure and find passes that other players didn’t even seem to see.
He made football look easy when it really wasn’t.
Liverpool have plenty of talented midfielders, but developing the little details can make a massive difference at the highest level.
When should you turn? When should you play forward? When is it better to keep possession? How do you find space when an opponent is trying to close you down?
Thiago has spent his career answering those questions on the pitch.
Imagine a young Liverpool midfielder being able to learn from him regularly.
That doesn’t guarantee success, of course, but I can certainly see the attraction.
His experience at Barcelona could be important too
Thiago has already started exploring coaching, having worked with Barcelona’s staff after retiring from playing.
Liverpool’s official website has now published a conversation between Thiago and Andoni Iraola at the AXA Training Centre, discussing football principles, coaching influences and life at the club.
That is an interesting development in itself.
Thiago has experience of Barcelona’s footballing environment, while Iraola is building his own Liverpool team and establishing the principles he wants his players to follow.
There could be plenty for them to discuss.
I also like the idea of having somebody around the club who understands Liverpool as a player, rather than arriving with no knowledge of the dressing room or the expectations at Anfield.
Thiago knows the club.
He knows the supporters.
And he knows what it feels like to play in front of the Kop.
That familiarity could help him settle into a new role.
This is about more than bringing back a familiar face
I know Liverpool supporters will enjoy seeing Thiago back around Anfield, but nostalgia shouldn’t be the main reason for bringing somebody onto the coaching staff.
What matters is what he can contribute.
Liverpool already confirmed four coaching appointments ahead of this season, with Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper joining as first-team coaches, Pablo de la Torre arriving as an assistant and Tom Webber taking up a tactical analyst role.
Thiago would bring a different kind of experience to that group.
He has played under elite managers, competed at the highest level and experienced football in Spain, Germany and England.
He also knows what it takes to adapt to different systems.
For a Liverpool squad containing established internationals and exciting young players, that knowledge could be useful in all sorts of ways.
And I suspect he will have plenty to offer Iraola as well.
I’m delighted he could be returning
I’ll always have a little frustration about Thiago’s Liverpool career because we never got to see enough of him.
There were matches when he controlled the midfield in a way very few players could.
His performance against Manchester United in the 4-0 win at Anfield in 2022 remains one of the best midfield displays I’ve seen from a Liverpool player in recent years.
He could make the difficult things look effortless.
Unfortunately, injuries prevented him from producing that level consistently.
But that doesn’t mean his time at Liverpool was wasted, and it certainly doesn’t mean his experience cannot be useful now.
Sometimes a player’s contribution to a club continues long after his playing career ends.
Thiago could now have the chance to help Liverpool in a completely different way.
And if the reported November appointment goes ahead, I think it is something supporters should welcome.
Welcome back to Anfield, Thiago.
Hopefully, this is the beginning of another important chapter with Liverpool.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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