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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Keifer MacDonald

Liverpool renew contract of former world-record holder whose appointment was ridiculed

Liverpool have retained the services of throw-in coach Thomas Gronnemark for a fifth season at Anfield.

The Dane has been involved in Jurgen Klopp's set-up on Merseyside since the beginning of the 2018/19 campaign and has been credited with helping the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson and Joe Gomez enhance their game during his time at the club so far.

Gronnemark, who once held the Guinness World Record for the longest throw-in, is a freelance coach and has worked for other football clubs including AFC Ajax, RB Leipzig, KAA Gent, Atlanta United and FC Midtjylland.

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Taking to Twitter to reveal the news that he would be continuing to work with the Reds ahead of the new season, Gronnemark said: "Proud to tell that I have signed a contract for my 5th season as a throw-in coach in Liverpool FC and 3 other pro clubs. I discovered throw-ins when I saw my big cousins doing long throw-ins in the mid-'80s.

"So, take your time...you might start a passion."

With plenty of Liverpool's creativity coming from their full-backs Alexander-Arnold and Robertson, the small margins Gronnemark has been able to implement at Anfield have seen the duo become quicker and more efficient when awarded a throw-in in a game.

Despite the appointment drawing plenty of scepticism following its announcement in 2018, it's not the first time Klopp has sought alternative measures in order to narrow the gap with Premier League title rivals Manchester City. In the pre-season of 2019, while the squad were out in their Evian training base, Klopp brought big-wave surfer Sebastian Steudtner into the camp to implement a series of exercises that would help the Liverpool players improve their mentality and their dealing with adversity.

More recently, the German called on the help company Neuro11 in a bid to help improve the mental state of his players while taking penalties and free kicks. A decision that was proven to be invaluable last campaign as the Reds beat Chelsea in both the League and FA Cup final.

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