Liverpool are set to bolster their technical bench as they prepare to defend their Premier League title next season. The club is nearing an agreement to bring in Dutch football manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst as part of the coaching staff, a move aimed at strengthening the team’s backroom setup.
Van Bronckhorst is expected to replace John Heitinga, the former assistant to head coach Arne Slot. Heitinga recently left Liverpool to take up the head coach position at Dutch giants Ajax. In response, Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes and head coach Arne Slot initiated talks with Van Bronckhorst, which have progressed significantly and are close to completion.
The Dutch tactician brings with him a wealth of experience, both as a player and manager. Van Bronckhorst previously held managerial roles at Feyenoord, Rangers, and most recently Beşiktaş. At Feyenoord, he began his coaching career as an assistant before being promoted to head coach in 2015. His tenure was marked by considerable success, including winning the KNVB Cup in his debut season and guiding the club to their first Eredivisie title in 18 years in 2017.
He then moved to Rangers in 2021, where he had an impressive stint, taking the team to the Europa League final and clinching the Scottish Cup in his first season. His most recent role at Beşiktaş in the Turkish Süper Lig was short-lived, as he parted ways with the club just six months after his appointment in June 2024.
As a player, Van Bronckhorst enjoyed a distinguished career. He played for clubs including Feyenoord, Rangers, Arsenal, and Barcelona. He was notably part of the Barcelona squad that won the UEFA Champions League in the 2005–06 season, starting in the final. On the international stage, he was capped 106 times by the Netherlands, representing his country in three FIFA World Cups (1998, 2006, and 2010) and three UEFA European Championships (2000, 2004, and 2008). He captained the Dutch team to the World Cup final in 2010, where they finished as runners-up.
His return to a high-profile role in the Premier League, this time as part of the coaching staff, is expected to inject fresh tactical insight into Liverpool’s preparations for the upcoming season. Van Bronckhorst’s managerial style is characterized by structured defense and fluid attacking play, which aligns well with Liverpool’s ambitions under Arne Slot. The official announcement of his appointment is anticipated within days as the club finalizes the agreement.
