Join AI Pro

Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp has been among those singing the praises of The Reds’ goalkeeping coach John Achterberg.

The former Tranmere Rovers goalkeeper, Achterberg, celebrates ten years as part of the first-team staff at Liverpool.

Klopp was speaking to Liverpoolfc.com about Achterberg when he highlighted the coaches ultimate professionalism and commitment:

“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 – sat there with the laptop open watching goalkeepers from the other end of the world. He’s constantly in there developing, changing training programmes, working with the boys. For me, he’s a fantastic goalkeeper coach.”

Achterberg himself gave some insight into how his promotion to the role of first-team coach from the reserves came about back in 2010.

“Sammy Lee rang us and said, ‘You need to start the pre-season with us because we have no goalie coach.’ I said, ‘No problem.’ Then Roy came in and said, ‘It was good that you’ve come to help us. My goalie coach will be coming in one or two weeks, then obviously you can go back to the reserves.’

“I ended up going on the pre-season trip. After we went home on the plane, he said, ‘I really like the work you do and I want you to stay with the first team and be assistant to Mike Kelly.’

“Obviously they left and then Kenny came in. Kenny asked Pepe [Reina] if he was happy with me and wanted to keep me and stuff. Obviously, they agreed to keep me and that’s how it went.

“You always know how it goes in football, if a new manager comes in and he brings his own goalie coach then sometimes you need to go to your new club and stuff like that. But the club was always happy.”

Achterberg’s ten-year spell means he has been a goalkeeper coach for Liverpool throughout the managerial reigns of Roy Hodgson, Kenny Dalglish, Brendan Rodgers, and Klopp. He was there through some of the club’s darkest days to a return to the pinnacle of European football.

If Achterberg ever decides to write a book about his time at Liverpool, it would be one hell of a read.

For the most in-depth tactical and statistical analysis regarding Liverpool FC, sign up now! The original home of Pressing Stats, Anfield Index also brings you the latest views from club legends such as Jan Molby.

Hear from the UK’s top journalists, managers, professionals, sports scientists, physios, and sports psychologists as we bring you the ultimate LFC fan experience provided on approximately 30 podcasts every month for our AI:Pro listeners!!

Enjoy all this and more for just £4.99 per month at Anfield Index Pro!!

Join AI Pro