With his staff reshuffled after a disastrous end to last season, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers always looked like appointing an ex-player to his coaching team and today Gary McAllister, who played a massive role in the treble winning campaign, has been announced as the Reds new first team coach.
“I took a text from Brendan asking if I would be interested, there was a role and a job offer there – would I mind coming to Melwood and having a chat? Obviously I jumped on that right away, so on Wednesday I popped into Melwood late in the afternoon and had a couple of hours with the manager,” he explained in an interview with the official site. “I liked what he had to say and what the role entailed, what it was about – that he wanted me in to help with his backroom staff. It was unbelievably quick.”
McAllister, always a popular figure among the Anfield faithful, joins ex-England u19 boss Sean O’Driscoll, who has been named assistant manager, and former academy man Pepijn Lijnders, who has been promoted to the newly created role of first team development coach, in Rodgers new look staff — something the Northern Irishman is delighted with.
“Gary has a special connection with this club and its supporters, and I’m delighted he is joining our team as first-team coach. When I met him I was struck by his passion, enthusiasm and knowledge for what we’re looking to achieve here,” explained the Reds manager. “He has experience coaching at the highest level and is someone who can connect with players and help them learn from his knowledge and understanding of representing this great club.”
