Bournemouth's summer rebuild continues after Tommy Elphick & Shaun Cooper agreed to join Andoni Iraola and Pablo De La Torre at Liverpool. The departures complete the exit of another influential quartet, leaving Marco Rose to assemble a new-look backroom team ahead of a historic European campaign.
AFC Bournemouth are preparing for another summer of significant upheaval behind the scenes after it emerged that first-team coaches Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper are set to follow Andoni Iraola to Liverpool.
The departures continue a major reshuffle in the Cherries' technical area. Following confirmation that Iraola will leave Dean Court to take charge at Anfield, fitness coach Pablo De La Torre also announced his exit, meaning four influential members of Bournemouth's coaching staff will depart within a matter of weeks.
It's a sense of deja-vu for Cherries fans who last season tried to comprehend a season with four departures from their back-line.
Ian Walton/ReutersElphick and Cooper were required to agree settlements with Bournemouth before completing their moves, with those agreements now understood to be in place. The pair are expected to formally sign their Liverpool contracts this weekend.
Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam confirmed the news on Friday, paying tribute to the impact both coaches have had during Bournemouth's rise under Iraola.
"Tommy and Coops developed into exceptional coaches whilst at Bournemouth," McAdam wrote on social media. "Take those two out of the equation and the last three years look very different, in my opinion. They gave everything in every moment."
Reflecting on their long association with the club, he added: "Shaun Cooper used to play and never get paid around the 2006-09 seasons, and Tommy was huge for promotion in 2015."
Their move underlines just how highly Iraola valued the duo. When the Spaniard arrived on the south coast in 2023, he was unable to bring his trusted assistant from Rayo Vallecano after repeated work permit issues prevented the move. As a result, Elphick and Cooper stepped into key coaching roles and quickly developed a close working relationship with Iraola and De La Torre.
All Change at Vitality Stadium for 206/27 - Ian Walton/ReutersThe quartet forged a strong bond behind the scenes, creating a coaching environment that helped Bournemouth continue to improve year after year. Their work culminated in the club securing a historic Europa League qualification, the greatest achievement in the club's Premier League era.
Understandably, there may be some concern among supporters about the loss of so much continuity. While Bournemouth's playing squad has evolved rapidly in recent transfer windows, the coaching staff had remained remarkably consistent. Replacing that experience and understanding will be another challenge for the club heading into a campaign unlike any other.
New head coach Marco Rose has already spoken about respecting the foundations laid by Iraola while gradually introducing his own ideas. However, with Elphick and Cooper also leaving, much of the institutional knowledge built up over the past three seasons will disappear with them.
Bournemouth are therefore expected to strengthen their own backroom team in the coming weeks as preparations continue for a historic season. With domestic and European commitments creating the busiest fixture schedule in the club's history, assembling the right coaching structure will be just as important as recruitment on the pitch.
