Sipke Hulshoff, the new assistant coach for Liverpool FC, has joined the club alongside Arne Slot. Although he will be officially known as the first assistant coach rather than assistant manager, Hulshoff has been chosen to effectively fill the shoes of Pepijn Lijnders. This decision was made because of the strong working relationship and shared vision between Hulshoff and Slot.
At 49 years old, Hulshoff brings a wealth of experience and is highly respected in the football world. He has previously worked with Slot at SC Cambuur and Feyenoord, as well as serving as Ronald Koeman’s assistant for the Netherlands from January 2023. Despite leaving that role before Euro 2024, Hulshoff’s move to Liverpool allows him to bring his expertise and make the transition during pre-season as smooth as possible.
One of the advantages of having Hulshoff on board is his prior experience working with Liverpool’s club captain, Virgil van Dijk. Hulshoff has also worked with Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch, which adds to his familiarity with some of the players. Van Dijk has spoken highly of Hulshoff’s impact in training, praising his clarity and tactical strength. This positive feedback from Van Dijk bodes well for Hulshoff’s future with the team.
Hulshoff’s coaching career extends beyond the borders of Holland. He has spent time at Red Bull Ghana, acting as both a youth coach and first-team manager. He also briefly took charge as caretaker manager at Qatari club Al-Arabi SC. However, it was at SC Cambuur where he began to make a name for himself, initially serving as an assistant manager before stepping in as caretaker boss on three occasions. He then moved on to FC Volendam before reuniting with Slot at Feyenoord. At Feyenoord, Hulshoff coached the under-21s and was eventually promoted to the assistant manager’s role. Together, they guided Feyenoord to success in the Eredivisie, Dutch Cup, and the Europa Conference League final.
In the 2023/24 season, Feyenoord finished second in the league with a record points tally for the club. This achievement mirrors the experience of Liverpool fans who have seen their team achieve similar success in recent years. Feyenoord also won the Dutch Cup, compensating for their runner-up position in the league.
While Slot’s job title differs from Jurgen Klopp’s, with Slot being the head coach rather than manager, Hulshoff will essentially fulfill the same role that Lijnders had on Merseyside. This includes working closely with the boss, preparing and often leading training sessions, and providing tactical input from the bench. With Hulshoff’s experience and Slot’s leadership, Liverpool can look forward to a seamless transition and continued success under their new coaching team.