Liverpool appoints Atlético Mineiro's Brazilian assistant coach, Luiz Fernando Iubel as its new individual development coach and promotes Aaron Briggs as new first-team set-piece coach..
2025-08-28 08:36
The Athletic's resident renowned English Liverpool team correspondent James Pearce, exclusively reported on Wednesday that Liverpool has appointed Atlético Mineiro's Brazilian assistant coach, Luiz Fernando Iubel, as its new individual development coach. Former individual development coach Aaron Briggs will be promoted to first-team set-piece coach.
According to Pearce's report, Liverpool and Atlético Mineiro reached an agreement quickly in the past few weeks. Iubel is currently awaiting approval of his UK work permit application, once this is successful, he will officially take up the new position on September 1st.
Iubel, who previously served as assistant coach at Cuiabá for four years, has long been recognized as one of the best young player development coaches in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.
Since the first-team set-piece coach position had been vacant since the departure of former legendary manager Jürgen Klopp, the Reds have decided to promote Briggs, who possesses expertise in this area, as their new first-team set-piece coach.
It's worth noting that Liverpool has been criticized for its defensive issues since the start of this season, and Aaron Briggs' promotion is expected to significantly reduce the Reds' goals conceding issues.
The primary responsibility of an individual development coach is to regularly monitor and provide head coach Arne Slot reports of the U21s and U18s coaching staff on performance, condition, and development of young players, acting as a vital bridge between the academy and the first-team.
The position was originally held by Portuguese coach Vitor Matos, but Briggs filled the vacancy left by his departure since last season.
Since last year, while Rio Ngumoha, Trey Nyoni, James McConnell, and Luca Stephenson have emerged as first-team players, the defending Premier League champions have been criticized for the decreasing number of young players being promoted.
With the summer departures of wonderkids like Jarell Quansah, Ben Doak, and Tyler Morton, Liverpool's academy development program has been seen as stagnant.
Now, it's hoped that the arrival of Luiz Fernando Iubel will address this issue of Liverpool's young players' development becoming stagnant.
