Elphick and Cooper terminate Bournemouth deals to join Iraola's Liverpool coaching staff

Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper are set to join Andoni Iraola’s coaching staff at Liverpool after the pair agreed terminations of their contracts at Bournemouth, with deals at Anfield expected to be signed this weekend.

Iraola, appointed Liverpool head coach following Arne Slot’s departure, had long been expected to draw on his former Bournemouth backroom team after the success the group enjoyed together on the south coast. The Cherries had hoped both coaches would remain at the Vitality Stadium as part of incoming head coach Marco Rose’s staff, but those plans have now fallen through.

Elphick, a boyhood Liverpool supporter, also rejected an approach from Bristol City to become their head coach this summer, signalling his clear preference to link up with Iraola once more. Cooper similarly chose the Anfield move over staying in the Championship.

Iraola departed Bournemouth midway through last season after three years in charge, during which he transformed the club into a consistent top-half Premier League side and guided them into European competition for the first time. His exit came as Liverpool moved swiftly to replace Slot, whose second season in charge saw the club slide from champions to fifth despite spending in excess of £400 million on new players.

At Liverpool, Iraola will also be reunited with left-back Milos Kerkez, who joined the club from Bournemouth 12 months ago and was one of the Spaniard’s most trusted players during their time together.

Speaking on his appointment, Iraola said: “Really excited, really excited because obviously you know about Liverpool, you know that it’s a big club, a massive club, one of the biggest in the world. But feeling inside and understanding a little bit more of this club, I always thought it’s a special club. The chance to fight for titles — I think it cannot be more attractive than this.”