Patrice Bergues (First team Coach)
Former
clubs: Noeux-les-Mines
Bergues is Houllier's right hand man, whose career bears uncanny similarity to
that of the man he befriended at grammer school. A non-professional midfielder
with tiny Noeux-les-Mines, a club Houllier coached, Bergues became one of the
Reds' manager's successors at Lens, where he coached, before following him again
to the French Football Federation.
Now he is at Liverpool, and he's brought a wealth of experience with him. A polite, likeable man, Bergues is quite content to blend into the background, and go about his work quietly and diligently. Publicity is not his thing.
With fellow coach Sammy Lee, Bergues plans the Melwood training sessions, while monitoring the progress of the youngsters through reserve fixtures and Academy games. This is a job he relishes, but results suggest it is harder than he had thought.
He says: "The speed of the game is undeniable. It's quicker than in any other championship I've seen. That means you have to be in great physical condition to play games. In this first year we are looking at how we can improve.
"That's why I say we need time. Of course, I understand the supporters, because they need victories. They won't be satisfied with speeches. It's the same in every country and with every club."