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Jurgen Klopp has revealed that a key member of Liverpool’s behind-the-scenes staff will also leave the club this summer as Ray Haughan departs after 16 years.
Sunday will be the last day at Liverpool FC for many of the club’s squad, including at least seven members of Klopp’s coaching staff.
It is already known that Pepijn Lijnders, Peter Krawietz, Vitor Matos, John Achterberg, Jack Robinson, Andreas Kornmayer and Andreas Schlumberger are leaving.
Liverpool will also see Haughan, the club’s general manager of first-team operations, leave after 16 years at Anfield.
Klopp himself confirmed the news in his program notes ahead of his final game against Wolves.
Haughan joined Liverpool from Bolton in 2008, first as administrative manager before becoming first team operations manager in 2016, before being promoted again in 2019.
In his current role, the long-serving figure has ensured that day-to-day life at the club runs smoothly, including managing player schedules, arranging travel and planning pre-season logistics.
He could often be seen watching game days from the tunnel or near the dugout, as he would join the players and staff in on-field celebrations.
Klopp praised his contribution as Liverpool gradually returned to training during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, describing it as a “huge organizational challenge”.
“What Ray Haughan has done in that department is incredible,” the manager told LiverpoolFC.com.
Huge changes off the pitch at Liverpool
Haughan’s departure comes as Fenway Sports Group oversees seismic changes to the Liverpool pitch this summer, prompted by Klopp’s resignation in November.
Further staff departures can be expected, with FSG’s arrival of Director of Football Michael Edwards to preside over the situation as a new era begins.
Edwards has already appointed Richard Hughes as sporting director and David Woodfine as assistant sporting director, while Arne Slott will replace Klopp as head coach.
The slot is set to be joined by Feyenoord staff members Sipke Hulshoff, Etienne Reijnen and Ruben Peeters, with further appointments to come.
Julian Ward, Liverpool’s former sporting director, has also agreed to join FSG in a new role as technical director, while Pedro Marques joins from Benfica as director of football development.
It remains to be seen how Haughan will be replaced, although the immediate effects of his departure will be mitigated as pre-season plans are already in place.
Liverpool will tour the United States for the first time since 2019, with friendlies against Real Betis (in Pittsburgh), Arsenal (Philadelphia) and Man United (Columbia).
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