A Liverpool coach allegedly invited an astrologer to the club’s training base to help pick the team in a bizarre mix-up. The Reds’ former director of research, Ian Graham, has revealed that the unnamed member of staff was inadvertently convinced that astrology could improve their chances of success.
Graham headed Liverpool’s data department between 2012 to 2023 and was a member of their infamous ‘transfer committee’. In his new book, How To Win The Premier League, the Welshman explains how Liverpool used analytics to build Jurgen Klopp’s hugely successful team while living within their means.
But one coach nearly went against the evidence-led approach to success. Graham begins the anecdote by describing a report claiming that the former West Ham defender Igor Stimac once picked a team with the help of astrology while the Croatian was manager of the Indian national team.
Although Stimac denies the claim, it is alleged that the individual “delved into the astrological realm and provided a verdict for each player listed, from ‘good’ to ‘not recommended for the day’.”
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And Liverpool had a similar encounter with another astrologer, who had managed to get in contact with a member of Liverpool’s coaching staff. When the coach asked the research department for their opinion of the astrologer, they were given a sarcastic response which they took seriously.
Graham explained: “One of the coaching staff had been approached by someone calling himself 'the football astrologer' and my department was asked for its view. I was in another meeting, and in my absence the coach asked my colleague Tim what he thought of the astrologer's website.
“The site included an astrological explanation of the inevitability of Germany winning the 2014 World Cup given the combination of star signs in their squad.
“Tim, an astrophysics Ph.D, naturally assumed the question was a joke so replied: 'Yes, this looks totally legitimate.'
“The coach immediately invited the astrologer to come and present his methods at the training ground. Astrology is obviously nonsense and we were thankfully able to stop horoscopes having any effect on our team.”
It is unclear who the coach is but it is likely that they worked as part of the coaching staff of either Klopp or Brendan Rodgers. They might even have been an academy coach, working away from the first team.
Liverpool won the Premier League and the Champions League during Klopp’s reign. Graham reveals that data analytics was key to the recruitment of the majority of the squad from the Reds’ Champions League final victory over Tottenham in 2019.
