The 34-year-old announced his retirement in July 2024, a matter of weeks after his Anfield contract expired.
The Spain international, who joined the Reds from Bayern Munich in 2020, made just one five-minute appearance for the club during the 2023/2024 season after being plagued by injuries.
After missing more than 130 games in the last four years of his career, Thiago insisted he knew it was the right time to hang up his boots – but that didn’t make it any easier “to let go of something I was in love with”.
“After such a long struggle to become a footballer – and then become the footballer I wanted to be – the hardest step was accepting that it was coming to an end,” Thiago said. The voice of coaches.
“It wasn’t difficult because of what would come next, but because I had to let go of something I was in love with due to circumstances beyond my control.
“It was hard, but I had to find that peace with myself, that acceptance and pride for the career I had.”
Since his retirement, however, Thiago has taken his first steps into the world of coaching – and is currently assistant manager of his boyhood club Barcelona.
And the ex-midfielder has admitted he will draw on the tactics and inspiration of ex-Reds boss Jurgen Klopp in his new role at Camp Nou.
“It was the place where I worked with Jurgen Klopp, someone who radiates energy every day,” said Thiago.
“I was lucky to work with a manager who was able to adapt every possible situation to the advantage of the team. We are talking about good and bad situations.”
“With Klopp there are no bad situations; only moments that have to be channeled in a way that is beneficial for your team.
“And he achieved this through energy, calmness or even laughter in moments that were not expected to be funny. He managed to instill that flow of energy, that direction, so that everyone followed him.
“Apart from the intensity of the training, the best thing I could pass on from Jurgen to my team is the idea that even if you just want to concentrate on working on a specific move, the game never stops – it stays alive.
“You can’t do a finishing drill without having an extra ball in case of a rebound, loss of possession or if you have to make a transition.
“What I inherited from Jurgen is the intensity that comes from running, passing and being well positioned.”
“It was Jurgen who told me I was going to become a coach”
The Spaniard added: “I could make a long list of all the coaches who have been useful throughout my life: Pep Guardiola, Hansi Flick, Luis Enrique, Carlo Ancelotti, Jurgen Klopp, Jupp Heynckes.
“I felt the benefit especially towards the end of my playing time. I don’t know if it was because Jurgen had seen my gray hair, or because we used some of the time we had on the field to talk and provide guidance, but it was Jurgen who told me I was going to be a coach.”
“When you reach a certain age and start noticing recurring patterns in a match, you start using them to take shortcuts to create overloads and advantages in the game.
“What happens on the field is not about the individual; it is about the team.
“You give the younger players input so they feel comfortable doing things their own way.
“You give them more tools than they already have. This grows the curiosity about coaching. While you are still a player, you ask yourself: ‘How can I help my teammates and other athletes?’”
“Even if you don’t label these moments or new attitudes as coaching at the time, the coaching side will gradually become part of your habits.
“Okay, I have to perform at my best in this training, in this match, but I also have the time and want to help someone else, a teammate, do the same.”
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