Liverpool’s Diogo Jota, Adrian and the outgoing Joel Matip have all taken the next step towards their coaching careers, gaining UEFA B licences.
As the playing career of a top footballer is short, many professionals often think about their plans after retirement.
For some, this will lead them into coaching, with new head coach Arne Slott being a prime example having previously represented PEC Zwolle, NAC Breda and Sparta Rotterdam as a player.
That’s the case for Jota, Adriano and Matip, who are working towards getting their coaching badges through UEFA.
On Wednesday, the PFA announced that all three had secured their UEFA B licence, the third highest level of coaching qualifications.
The PFA supported three @LFC players on their coaching journey, who have recently finished @UEFA B License. ?
Congratulations @AdriSanMiguelJoel Matip and @DiogoJota18 ? pic.twitter.com/YGwAmUycTR
— Professional Footballers Association (@PFA) June 5, 2024
Jota and Matip have been working towards their badges for at least a year, holding sessions coaching players from the Robbie Fowler Academy at the AXA Training Center last June.
Fabinho was also part of that group and Jota and Adrian were then introduced to work with the Steven Gerrard Academy in November.
James McConnell, goalkeeper Reece Trueman and forward Ivan Roberts, who has since left the club, all acquired UEFA B licenses in 2023.
That, of course, doesn’t suggest any of these players plan to move into coaching any time soon, although Adrian’s qualifications could be particularly interesting.
The Spaniard was offered a new one-year contract by Liverpool this summer, and given that the goalkeeping staff is set for a big change following the departures of John Achterberg and Jack Robinson, it could happen that he is included.
Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp has hinted that Joel Matip could consider retiring at the end of his contract at Anfield, although this has yet to be confirmed.
Jota would be considered the furthest from the senior trio since the beginning of his coaching life, and the Portuguese has already expressed doubts about becoming a coach.
“At this stage I feel I will never be a first team (manager),” he said last year.
“I could be an assistant, for example, but you never know, so if I get the chance (to do the qualifiers) I think I’ll learn something while I’m doing it, and eventually get a UEFA B badge and then I can go from there.”
