Liverpool part ways with specialist throw-in coach Thomas Gronnemark

Liverpool will stop working with throw-in coach Thomas Gronnemark at the end of the season.

Jürgen Klopp brought in the 47-year-old Dane five years ago to help improve this particular aspect of Liverpool’s game.

Gronnemark wanted to increase the number of times he worked with the Liverpool players at the AXA Training Centre, but Klopp and his staff decided not to and they have parted ways amicably.

Gronnemark has worked for Liverpool on a freelance basis and is also employed by numerous other clubs around the world, including Ajax in the Netherlands, French Cup winner Toulouse and Philadelphia Union in the United States.

His visits to his work with Liverpool have become increasingly rare during the Covid pandemic and his work of late has mainly consisted of sending in an analysis of their throw-ins.

Gronnemark with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp – he has parted ways with the club

Gronnemark tweeted: ‘All good things must come to an end. Liverpool and I have decided not to continue our throw-in coaching arrangement after five great seasons.

“I’m proud to be a part of taking LFC from 18th to 1st in the Premier League by taking throw-ins under pressure.

‘Since then, 25 professional clubs have hired me because of Liverpool’s impressive development – and I’ve been part of 14 titles, promotions and teams that have punched above their weight.

“The past few seasons didn’t allow me to work with the throw-ins as much as I wanted – and so it’s natural and expected that we should now give thanks for this time.

Thank you for a great time and collaboration, to Liverpool FC and Jurgen Klopp, the staff and players. We’ve had a fantastic ride.

‘What now, Thomas? Well, exciting things ahead. Three new agreements signed for the upcoming season, including one on a new continent. I am open to more clubs in the coming season.’

In an interview with The athleticGronnemark: ‘In my first two seasons I visited Liverpool every four or five seasons, working with the players for a week each time.

“That was fantastic because it meant I could do a lot with them and we had great results winning the Champions League and the Premier League title.

Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson takes a throw-in during a recent Premier League match

But then Covid-19 happened and with the travel restrictions and the crazy schedule for the players, it became very difficult for me to visit the UK and spend the same amount of time with them on the training ground.

“Last season I only had two visits and when I was with Kirkby recently it was the first time in 10 months.

“I told the club that I thought the best solution for next season was to increase the number of visits so that I had the opportunity to work more deeply with the players.

“The second best solution was not to continue at Liverpool Football Club, as I can’t exert a good influence as long as I’m between visits.

The club’s reaction was that they didn’t think a return to four or five visits a season would be possible and they will try to work with the throw-ins themselves in the future. I will always be proud to say that I worked for Liverpool Football Club.’

Last year, Gronnemark described Arsène Wenger’s proposal to introduce kick-ins as the ‘biggest mistake’ in football.

“The goal is to make the game more spectacular and faster,” Wenger had said. “Maybe in throw-in, for example, you can play with your feet in a five-second limit.”

In his role at FIFA, Arsène Wenger has set himself the goal of radically changing old rules, including throw-ins

However, the Frenchman’s position is very different from that of Gronnemark, who believes that idea would only harm the sport from a game and spectator point of view.

“It would be the biggest mistake,” said the 46-year-old Sky Sports.

“They would take away something beautiful. But I’m 100 percent sure they’ll keep them because they’ll soon see if they try, that maybe the ball won’t be lost as often without pressure on the kicker and ruin the fun of the game for everyone.’

Recruited by Liverpool from pioneering Scandinavian Midtjylland, the Dane held the world record for the longest throw-in at 51.33m in 2010.

The season before moving to Anfield, Liverpool were 18th out of 20 Premier League sides in keeping a throw-in under pressure (2017–18 period).

A campaign later, Liverpool had improved their throw-in retention under pressure from 45.4 per cent to 68.4 per cent.

This saw them rise from 18th in this standings to first in the Premier League – and second in Europe overall, behind only Gronnemark’s fellow side Midtjylland.