Liverpool Seeks to Fill Overlooked But Essential Backstage Role

Liverpool’s surge of job listings continues this summer, highlighting a crucial behind-the-scenes role that many fans might not be familiar with.

Following a significant departure of staff after Jurgen Klopp’s resignation, Liverpool has taken to openly advertising several key positions. These roles include a specialist set-piece coach, a new strength and conditioning coach, another first-team physio, and a performance insights lead.

Additionally, several positions have already been filled both on and off the pitch. Arne Slot has been appointed as head coach, while Michael Edwards, Julian Ward, Richard Hughes, and Pedro Marques have joined the boardroom team.

Now, Liverpool has advertised for another crucial position: a player care administrator. This role, based at the club’s AXA Training Centre, aims to ensure a “hassle-free experience for every player, allowing them to thrive on and off the pitch.”

In essence, a player care administrator handles various aspects of a player’s daily life off the pitch. Responsibilities include:

• Organizing living arrangements for new players
• Setting up utilities, council tax, TV, broadband, and phone bills
• Sourcing private chefs, driving instructors, and healthcare services
• Managing players’ vehicles while they are at the training ground
• Handling ticket requests and merchandise signings

While not a new position, nor unique to Liverpool or even football, this role highlights how clubs support their players. Many players, often young and new to the country, may lack experience in handling everyday adult responsibilities, especially in a different culture.

This role underscores how disconnected players’ lives can be from those of fans, but it also allows them to focus entirely on their demanding careers as professional footballers.

The job has become available following the departure of Ray Haughan, who previously managed these responsibilities as the general manager of first-team operations. Haughan left the club along with Klopp, Pepijn Lijnders, Peter Krawietz, Vitor Matos, John Achterberg, Jack Robinson, Andreas Kornmayer, and Andreas Schlumberger this summer.

Haughan was instrumental in organizing Liverpool’s pre-season plans, a task that will now be handled by others within the club.