Liverpool have confirmed the appointment of Alejandro Rosalen as their new first-team goalkeeping coach. Rosalen joins Andoni Iraola’s backroom staff, filling the position previously held by Xavi Valero, who departed at the close of last season after a 12-month tenure. This appointment marks another step in bolstering Iraola’s coaching team.
The 49-year-old Spaniard brings extensive experience to Anfield. Most recently, he completed a five-year period with Serie A club Napoli, where he was part of the coaching staff that contributed to their Serie A title victories in 2023 and 2025. These titles were significant for Napoli, being their first since 1990.
Prior to his time in Naples, Rosalen spent eight years with Fiorentina, another Italian top-flight club. During his spell at Stadio Artemio Franchi, he worked under five different managers. His coaching career began in Spain with Valencia’s Academy, where he also spent eight years, including time with their under-19 side. Additionally, he had a season in Hungary with Videoton.
Rosalen’s arrival makes him the latest addition to Iraola’s coaching setup this summer, and the first non-Bournemouth recruit. Iraola has been reuniting with several former colleagues. Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper have joined as first-team coaches, having followed Iraola from Bournemouth after an agreement was reached between the clubs for their release. Pablo de la Torre has also linked up as an assistant coach, while Tom Webber has been appointed as first-team tactical analyst. Both de la Torre and Webber previously worked with Iraola during his three years in charge at Bournemouth.
De la Torre, who previously led fitness at Vitality Stadium, will now serve as Iraola’s deputy. Elphick joins Cooper as a first-team coach, and Webber steps into the role previously held by Roderick van der Ham, who confirmed his departure at the end of June. This series of appointments follows Iraola’s own arrival as head coach last month, replacing Arne Slot.
In other news concerning Liverpool‘s goalkeeping department, young goalkeeper Armin Pecsi will not be joining the club’s pre-season tour of the U.S. The 21-year-old is reportedly close to securing a season-long loan move to Austrian Bundesliga team TSV Hartberg. Liverpool is keen for Pecsi to gain regular senior experience, with Hartberg reportedly fending off interest from several clubs in Switzerland and France.
Pecsi has made a positive impression since joining Liverpool from Puskas Akademia last summer. He was a regular for the club at under-21s level and was an unused substitute for the first team on five occasions during the 2025-26 season. Pecsi also made his senior international debut for Hungary against Kazakhstan last month.
The new goalkeeping coach, Rosalen, brings a track record of success from his previous roles, including his time contributing to Napoli‘s title wins. His appointment is part of a broader restructuring of the coaching staff under Iraola, with several key figures from his previous club joining the team. The changes aim to solidify the support structure around the new head coach as the club prepares for the upcoming season, with Pecsi’s loan move to TSV Hartberg also part of the club’s strategy for player development.
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Source: nytimes.com
As NewsGB's Senior Football Correspondent, Jack Ferndale reports on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side for readers across the country. He covered north-east football for a regional daily. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of Sunderland and completed an NCTJ diploma. Jack lives in Sunderland, where he watches lower-league football home and away. “The story is in the squad, not just the starting eleven.”
