LFC CHRISTMAS GIFTS

UP THE REDS!

Diogo Jota works towards coaching badges – with support from Steven Gerrard

Diogo Jota and Adrian continue to show initiative as they work towards their coaching badges, with the duo the latest Liverpool players to go down the route.

Jurgen Klopp‘s side have now disbanded and travelled across the globe to represent their respective nations for the final international break of the year following the 3-0 win over Brentford.

But before the November break, Jota and Adrian continued to work on their coaching badges at the AXA Training Centre, with the duo hosting sessions as they push towards their qualifications.

The duo coached young players from the Steven Gerrard Academy prior to the international break, and Adrian also undertook a UEFA license coaching assessment earlier this month.

They are the latest first-team players to work on their badges while actively playing for the club, with the likes of James Milner, Lucas Leiva and Adam Lallana having done so in previous years.

Joel Matip is another who has started his coaching badges from the current crop of players and Fabinho, prior to his summer departure, had also held sessions.

Speaking on his UEFA B Licence endeavours to the club’s website, Jota said: “In this moment I would not mind to be a coach.

“I played all of these games like Football Manager, I always loved it, and I feel that on the pitch, on the tactical side, I always understand the game and that also plays an important aspect in my own game.

KARLSRUHE, GERMANY - Wednesday, July 19, 2023: Liverpool substitutes Diogo Jota, Alexis Mac Allister and Joe Gomez on the bench before a pre-season friendly match between Karlsruher SC and Liverpool FC at the Wildparkstadion. Liverpool won 4-2. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

“But at this stage I feel I will never be a first-team coach [manager]. I could be an assistant, for example, but you never know so if I have this opportunity [to do the qualification] I think I will learn something while I am doing it, and in the end I get the UEFA B badge and then I can go from there.”

While Gerrard’s academy and its pupils assisted on this occasion, earlier this year The Robbie Fowler Academy were involved as Jota, Matip and Fabinho started their coaching journey.

While Adrian, at the age of 36, is closer to considering what comes after his playing career, Jota is still just 26 and his decision to take this path shows an early desire for what may be in store when he hangs up his boots – which is still quite a few years away.