LIVERPOOL HAVE CONFIRMED the appointment of Sean O’Driscoll as their new assistant manager. The former Bournemouth, Doncaster, Nottingham Forest and Bristol City manager has left his position as England under-19 head coach to take up the position at Anfield.
He will be joined on Brendan Rodgers’ new-look coaching staff by Pepijn Lijnders, who has been promoted to the newly created position of first-team development coach. He joined Liverpool in 2014 and oversaw the development of the club’s Under-16s last season.
O’Driscoll will replace former number two Colin Pascoe who, along with first-team coach Mike Marsh, was sacked in June following the end-of-season review into the club’s failure to retain Champions League football.
Rodgers says O’Driscoll, who has three caps for the Republic of Ireland, told Liverpool’s official website that he believes O’Driscoll can help take Liverpool in a new technical direction.
“I have made these appointments because I want to take us in a new technical direction, in terms of coaching,” he said. “I believe the entire first-team set-up will benefit and I am extremely positive and excited about what we can achieve, as a group, going forward.
“My admiration for Sean, as a professional, is well documented. He is someone with a clear vision and philosophy and he has proved he has the ability to transfer that knowledge, through his coaching, to the players”.
O’Driscoll, who has only been England Under-19s head coach since September, said that he is “excited to be joining one of the world’s most iconic football clubs.”
“The hallmark of any successful club is its culture and that comes from the people who work there, from the chief executive and first-team manager to those people behind the scenes whose faces may not be known but who are the lifeblood of the club.
“From the moment I drove into Melwood last week and was greeted by Kenny the gateman, I could not have been made to feel more welcome. If you are going to have any level of success these people are as crucial as the players; from my experiences so far it is clear everyone wants to help this club succeed.”
The majority of Liverpool’s players have reported back for pre-season training this morning. That includes Raheem Sterling, who is expected back despite intense interest in the 20-year-old from Manchester City.
Is this a good appointment by Liverpool?