John Achterberg

Achterberg was born in Utrecht. He first signed for Tranmere Rovers in 1998, after a successful trial as a replacement for the Everton bound Steve Simonsen. He was immediately selected for the first team due to an injury to Danny Coyne, making his debut against Swindon Town on 25 September 1998. Achterberg then secured his place as Rovers' first choice goalkeeper after Coyne was transferred to Grimsby Town in 1999. Achterberg became part of the giant-killing cup teams that defeated such opponents as Everton, Southampton and other big teams. However after refusing to sign a new contract he was dropped by John Aldridge for the 2000 Football League Cup final and replaced by Joe Murphy. Achterberg's proficiency in goal was exemplified by the 20 clean sheets he kept during the 2003–04 season under the stewardship of Brian Little. One of his more memorable performances was against Millwall in an FA Cup quarter final at The New Den which was televised on BBC 1. The game finished goalless, but was largely dominated by Millwall and Achterberg managed to save a penalty kick from Kevin Muscat, despite having to play through injury. Achterberg's 2005–06 season was less successful. After spending most of the season sidelined with injuries, he was replaced by Steve Wilson and Dino Seremet, who was on loan from Luton Town. Achterberg's chances of re-establishing himself as Tranmere's first choice goalkeeper in 2006–07 were hampered by the signing and good form of veteran journeyman Gavin…

After retiring from playing in 2009 with Tranmere Rovers, Achterberg joined Liverpool in June 2009 as a goalkeeping coach of the reserve and academy goalkeepers before being promoted to first-team goalkeeping coach in summer 2011. On 19 July 2018, Liverpool officially confirmed the signing of Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year Alisson, for a fee of £66.8 million (€72.5 million), making him the most expensive goalkeeper of all time, surpassing the transfers of Ederson (most expensive in pound sterling) and Gianluigi Buffon (most expensive in Euros). The record stood for only four weeks, when Chelsea signed Kepa Arrizabalaga for a reported £71.6 million (€80 million) from Athletic Bilbao. In his first season under Achterberg, Alisson kept a total of 21 clean sheets in Premier League, and won the Golden Glove. By doing so he broke the record of former Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina for the most clean sheets by any Premier League goalkeeper in their debut season. In the Champions League knockout stages, meanwhile, Alisson played a starring role as Liverpool advanced to their second consecutive final in the competition; in their second-leg semi-final at home to Barcelona, he made a number of impressive saves as Liverpool overturned a 3–0 first leg deficit to advance past their opponents with a 4–0 home win. In the final on 1 June 2019, Alisson kept a clean sheet for Liverpool as they defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2–0, making eight saves in the process, as Achterberg won his second…

Tranmere Rovers

Football League Cup runner-up: 1999–2000