Liverpool’s Diogo Jota, Adrian and the departing Joel Matip have all taken the following step in the direction of a profession in teaching, acquiring their UEFA B Licence.
With the taking part in profession of a top-level footballer a brief one, plans after retirement are sometimes on the minds of many professionals.
For some, that may lead them in the direction of teaching, with new head coach Arne Slot a major instance having first represented PEC Zwolle, NAC Breda and Sparta Rotterdam as a participant.
That’s the case for Jota, Adrian and Matip, who’re working in the direction of gaining their teaching badges via UEFA.
On Wednesday, the PFA introduced that the trio had all secured their UEFA B Licence, which is the third-highest stage of teaching {qualifications}.
The PFA have been supporting three @LFC gamers on their teaching journey, lately finishing the @UEFA B Licence. ?
Congratulations @AdriSanMiguel, Joel Matip and @DiogoJota18 ? pic.twitter.com/YGwAmUycTR
— Skilled Footballers’ Affiliation (@PFA) June 5, 2024
Jota and Matip have been working in the direction of their badges for not less than a yr, having held periods teaching gamers from The Robbie Fowler Academy on the AXA Coaching Centre final June.
Fabinho was additionally a part of that group, with Jota and Adrian then pictured working with the Steven Gerrard Academy in November.
James McConnell, goalkeeper Reece Trueman and striker Iwan Roberts, who has since departed the membership, all earned their UEFA B Licence in 2023.
That is no indication that any of those gamers are planning to maneuver into teaching imminently, in fact, although Adrian‘s qualification could possibly be notably fascinating.
The Spaniard has been provided a brand new one-year contract by Liverpool this summer season, and with the goalkeeping workers set for a significant change following the exit of John Achterberg and Jack Robinson, it could possibly be that he has been factored in.
In the meantime, Jurgen Klopp hinted that Joel Matip might contemplate retirement upon the expiry of his deal at Anfield, although that’s as but unconfirmed.
Jota can be seen because the furthest of the senior trio from beginning life as a coach, and the Portuguese has already expressed doubt over turning into a supervisor.
“At this stage I really feel I’ll by no means be a first-team [manager],” he stated final yr.
“I could possibly be an assistant, for instance, however you by no means know so if I’ve this chance [to do the qualification] I feel I’ll study one thing whereas I’m doing it, and ultimately I get the UEFA B badge after which I can go from there.”
