Alisson thrilled to work with Cláudio Taffarel at Liverpool after Brazilian legend is added to coaching staff

Liverpool add Taffarel; Alisson thrilled with continued relationship

Premier League giants Liverpool took another step in their continued efforts in adding a new dimension into the club when they added legendary former Brazilian goalkeeper Cláudio Taffarel to the coaching staff under boss Jürgen Klopp.

Taffarel earned 101-caps for Seleção during his 18-year professional career that saw him feature for his country across a decade of service, which included a World Cup win in 1994 and two Copa America titles (1989 & 1997), and is still viewed today as an iconic piece of national team lore.

#LFC can announce a deal has been agreed for Claudio Taffarel to join the club’s first-team staff, with the Brazilian set to assume the role of goalkeeping coach.

The 55-year-old will join John Achterberg and Jack Robinson in working with the Reds’ ‘keepers.

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 30, 2021

After taking up managerial postings post-retirement, Taffarel eventually found his way into the role of goalkeeper roach within the national team program and his relationship with Liverpool number one shot-stopper Alisson Becker was a key factor in his recent arrival at Anfield, one that has Alisson thrilled.

“I think it was a really good move from the club. The boss spoke with me. I work in the national team with him, I know his qualities, he can contribute. I am really happy with Johny [Achterberg] and Jack [Robinson] and already.

Taffa can bring us a lot of things. Obviously we don’t need to talk about his legacy as a goalkeeper but he is really good, one of the best. He is really helping us to improve so why not have the opportunity to work with him daily?

I was really looking forward to this moment and I’m really happy we can have him here. He’s a really cool guy.”

Goalkeeping culture at Anfield is a growing remit for the Reds

When you have one of the best goalkeepers in the world in your ranks, you certainly have it made. But for Liverpool, it is not enough to have Alisson Becker as their most trusted custodian at the back.

The Reds, in conjunction with bringing Cláudio Taffarel on board in a coaching capacity, are looking to push their development of goalkeepers to the next level.

Apart from Alisson, and veteran Adrían, youngsters Caoimhin Kelleher (23), Vítězslav Jaroš (20), and Marcelo Pitaluga (18) are all in the development pipeline under the head of goalkeeping, John Achterberg.

For boss Jürgen Klopp, the continued development of the wealth of keepers the Reds can boast through all levels certainly demands attention;

“In terms of goalkeepers, it means we have Alisson Becker, who for us is the best goalie in the world. We have Caoimhin Kelleher, who we really think is an exceptional, exceptional player.

We have Adrian, who has shown his qualities since he arrived here. Then we have Marcelo Pitaluga, then we have Harvey Davies, so we have five goalies in different age groups, which is great but we want to have even more of these guys.

We want to build kind of our own philosophy in goalkeeping because we all agree it’s its own game, so that’s why we wanted to have another completely different view on it.”

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