Liverpool will part company with throw-in coach Thomas Gronnemark at the end of the season.
The 47-year-old Dane has worked with Jurgen Klopp’s squad for the past five years but his contract won’t be renewed when it expires this summer.
The parting of the ways is understood to be amicable, with Gronnemark informing Liverpool he wanted more time on the training field with the players if he was going to continue in the role next season. Klopp and his staff decided against sanctioning that request.
Gronnemark, who works for a number of other clubs including Dutch giants Ajax, MLS side Philadelphia Union and French Cup winners Toulouse, spent a week at the AXA Training Centre last month but that was his first visit since pre-season last July.
His trips to Merseyside have become increasingly infrequent with his work for Liverpool largely centred around sending the coaching staff an analysis report on offensive and defensive throw-ins after each game.
“I won’t be working for Liverpool beyond this season and I didn’t decide that myself, it was a club decision,” Gronnemark tells The Athletic.
“But I respect that decision and I’ll always be grateful for the amazing opportunity Jurgen gave me.
“In the first two seasons, I had four or five visits to Liverpool each season, spending a week working with the players each time. That was fantastic because it meant I was able to do a lot with them and we had great results with winning the Champions League and the Premier League title.
“But then Covid-19 happened and with the travel restrictions and the crazy schedule for the players, it became very hard for me to visit the UK and spend the same amount of time with them at the training ground. Last season I only had two visits and when I spent time at Kirkby recently that was the first time for 10 months.
“I told the club that I felt the best solution for next season was to increase the number of visits to give me the chance to work deeper with the players. The second best solution was not continuing at Liverpool Football Club because I can’t have a proper influence going so long between visits.
“The response from the club was that they didn’t think going back to four or five visits a season would be possible and that they will try to work with the throw-ins themselves going forward. I’ll always be proud to say I worked for Liverpool Football Club.”
