When Liverpool fan favourite Thiago Alcantara announced he was leaving Merseyside in May it wasn’t entirely clear what would become of the midfield maestro.
In July Thiago clarified his situation, announcing his retirement in a post on Instagram.
It was a devastating moment for the 33-year-old who made a £20million move to Jurgen Klopp’s side in 2020, but perhaps unsurprising given how little he has been able to play in recent years due to injury.
‘Appreciation and gratitude – they are two words that come to mind on the day I have to say goodbye to all of you, Reds,’ he said on social media.
What the Spaniard does with his retirement has now become clearer.
Thiago announced his retirement in July after becoming a firm fan favourite on Merseyside
The 33-year-old’s career was blighted by several injuries which contributed to his retirement
Thiago’s former club Barcelona have announced that he will spend the coming months within Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick’s coaching team. Thiago is said to be training to become a coach himself.
The ex-Liverpool man is expected to spend the summer with Barcelona, including on their tour of the United States.
The 33-year-old came through Barcelona’s youth academy La Masia from 2005, having spent much of his youth career at Flamengo.
He made 68 appearances for Barcelona’s first team from 2009 to 2013 and was Spanish champion four times and a Champions League winner once with the Catalan club.
But the Italian-born Spanish international’s career was blighted by injuries.
After leaving Catalonia he played just 150 times for Bayern Munich across seven season during which he won the Bundesliga seven times and his second Champions League title.
He spent considerable time in the rehab room while in Germany, a knee ligament tear in his first season in Bavaria kept him out for more than a year.
At Bayern, Thiago spent one year under current Barcelona coach Flick when he guided Bayern to the treble. The pair are said to have formed a ‘close relationship’.
Hansi Flick and Thiago worked together at Bayern during the 2019/20 treble-winning season
A graduate of La Masia, Thiago has returned to his old club to learn his trade as a future coach
After moving to Liverpool in 2020, Thiago quickly established himself as a fan favourite.
Soon, though, injuries began to hamper him again and in 2023/24 he spent 284 days out with a recurring hip injury that contributed to his retirement.
When Thiago’s departure from Liverpool was announced, Klopp said: ‘Before he even came to Liverpool I believed that if you really love football it would make a lot of sense if you watched Thiago Alcantara play.
‘I know injuries have been a frustration for him and also for us but the level that he was able to play at when he was available was incredible. This is what I will remember.’
