Liverpool F.C. Under 23s is the reserve & senior youth team of Liverpool F.C. It is the most senior level of the Liverpool academy beneath the first team. In the summer of 2012, the whole English reserve football system was overhauled and replaced with an Under 21 league system, the Professional Development League. Liverpool's reserve team became the Liverpool under 23 team and competes in the Professional Development League 1 which is also known by its sponsorship name of Barclays under 21 Premier League and Premier League 2. The team generally consists of Under-21 players at the club but at times senior players also play for the reserves when they are recuperating from injury. Following the introduction of new regulations from the 2012–13 season, only three outfield players and one goalkeeper over the age of 21 can play for the reserves regularly.
| Full name | Liverpool Football Club | |||
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| Nickname(s) | The Mighty Reds | |||
| Founded | 2014 | |||
| Ground | The Academy, Kirkby | |||
| Manager | Barry Lewtas (U23) Marc Bridge-Wilkinson (U18) | |||
| League | Professional Development League 1 | |||
| 2021–22 | 4th | |||
| Website | http://www.liverpoolfc.com | |||
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Liverpool F.C. Academy is the youth set up Liverpool Football Club. It trains players from the U6 age group[1] up to the U21 squad. The academy has separate head coaches in charge of development in the U6-U9, U10-U11, U12-U14 and U15-U16 age groups. At U21 and U18 level there are dedicated coaching teams managed by Michael Beale with the U21 position vacant as of 2 March 2020. Alex Inglethorpe was promoted from U21 manager to Academy Director in the summer of 2014 and holds overall responsibility for operation of the academy. The academy has won the FA Youth Cup, a competition for players of age 15 to 18, four times in 1996, 2006, 2007 and 2019.
Liverpool F.C. Academy is considered to be one of the most productive football academies of the richer clubs both in England and in the world. Various current and past Liverpool players have graduated through the academy, including Billy Liddell, Ronnie Moran, Ian Callaghan, Phil Thompson, Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman, Michael Owen, Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard and Trent Alexander-Arnold, among many others.
Reserve team (Under 23s)
editLiverpool Under 23s played in Premier League 2. The Reserves won the regional division title in 2000 and again 2008 winning also the national league that year. It competed in the Lancashire Combination from 1896 to 1911, with the exception of the 1898–99 season, in which it joined The Combination. From 1911 on, it took part in the Central League until becoming inaugural members of the Premier Reserve League North in 1999. The team also participated in the Liverpool Senior Cup and the Lancashire Senior Cup; the last time it took part in them was the 2009–10 season when it also won both competitions.
The last reserve team manager was Rodolfo Borrell, who was appointed in July 2011 and led the reserve team during its final season before taking over the newly formed under-21 side in July 2012. The reserves last played their home games at Prenton Park (the home of Tranmere Rovers);[2] in previous seasons the team has also played at the club's academy, the Halliwell Jones Stadium (home of Warrington Wolves), Haig Avenue (the home of Southport), Totally Wicked Stadium (the home of St Helens R.F.C.) and the Racecourse Ground (home of Wrexham).
The most successful Liverpool Reserves manager was Roy Evans. Evans spent most of his playing career as a reserve team player, making only 11 appearances for the first team. After an injury ended his career in 1974, he was appointed manager of the reserves by Bob Paisley. Evans subsequently led the reserves to victory in a series of Central League championships, including three in his first three seasons, a four in a row sequence from 1978, and two more in the early 1980s. Throughout the history of Liverpool FC, many of the club's best known players have progressed through the reserve team. These include people who at one point were first team squad members including Trent Alexander-Arnold, Steven Gerrard, Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen, Steve McManaman, Jamie Carragher and Raheem Sterling.
The Academy
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In 1998, a new state-of-the-art Youth Academy was opened in Kirkby, Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley. It replaced the older, more informal youth system, and enables the club to focus their youth development and scouting, employing new techniques and FA standards.
Scouts attend many local youth matches looking for talented boys. A boy will then be invited to attend training sessions at the Academy. They are currently taken in as young as the age of six. Former England International player Jamie Carragher started at Liverpool when he was aged just nine, with Michael Owen joining at eleven, and Steven Gerrard joining at the age of eight.[3]
On the walls of the indoor centre hang the words 'Technique', 'Attitude', 'Balance', and 'Speed'. 'TABS' is the key word preached at The Academy.[4] Academy director Alex Inglethorpe has said the remit of the academy is to produce physically, technically, tactically and mentally elite players with enough quality to represent the senior side in the Champions League.[1] Liverpool won the 2005 Champions league with two locally born academy graduates starting in the final.
Academy partnerships
editThe Academy has a long-lasting affiliation with MTK Budapest's Sándor Károly Football Academy[5] and maintains a number of football schools worldwide through partnerships with football clubs and commercial and sports organisations.[6] LFC International Football Academy currently has branches in Scandinavia[7] (Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Gran Canaria during winter), America[8] (Texas and Plymouth, the latter through an affiliate[9] with CS United Soccer Club), Egypt[10] (Cairo), South Africa[11] (Durban and Johannesburg), China[12] (Guilin), India[13] (Pune, in cooperation with DSK Shivajians), and Japan[14] (Tokyo). Previously schools were also run in Abuja, Belfast, Boston, Charlotte, Cyprus, Dublin, Hong Kong, Iceland, Jakarta, Katwijk, Lisbon, Madrid, Malta, Mumbai, Manila, Nairobi, Saint Vincent, and Singapore.[6]
Academy squad
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Players listed in bold have made at least one senior first-team appearance.
Out on Loan
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Staff
editCurrent coaching and medical staff
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In addition, the Academy employ staff from the first-team.
Reserve team manager history
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Bob Paisley (1954–1957)- Joe Fagan (1957–1974)
- Roy Evans (1975–1984)
- Chris Lawler (1984–1986)[23]
- Phil Thompson (1986–1992)
- Sammy Lee (1993–1998)
- Joe Corrigan (1998–2002)
- Hughie McAuley (2003–2006)
- Gary Ablett (2006–2009)
- John McMahon (2009–2011)
José Segura (caretaker) (2011)- Rodolfo Borrell (2011–2012)
- Alex Inglethorpe (2012–2014)
- Michael Beale (2014–2016)
- Mike Garrity (caretaker) (2016–2017)
- Neil Critchley (2017–2020)
- Barry Lewtas (2020–present)
Awards
editLiverpool Academy Players' Player of the Year
editPlayers in bold are still playing for Liverpool.
| Season | Name | Nationality | Position | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–14 | Jordan Rossiter |  England |
Midfielder | [24][25] |
| 2014–15 | João Carlos Teixeira |  Portugal |
Midfielder | [26] |
| 2015–16 | Brad Smith |  Australia |
Defender | [27] |
| 2016–17 | Trent Alexander-Arnold | England |
Defender | [28] |
| 2017–18 | Harry Wilson |  Wales |
Winger | [29] |
| 2018–19 | Not Awarded | |||
Honours
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Reservesedit
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Youthedit
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*Asterisk denotes a shared title.
Noted graduates
editEstablished at Liverpool
editLiverpool's youth system has only seen moderate success over the years; with only a few players who have come through it have gone on to feature in the first-team. The following players have gone on to play over ten competitive matches for the first team.
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Pre-WW2 |
1940s
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1950s |
1960s
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1970s |
1980s
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1990s |
2000s
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Established elsewhere
editMany of the former Liverpool youth and reserve team players have found success with other clubs. None of these players became established members of the Liverpool first team.
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1950s |
1960s |
1970s |
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1980s
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1990s
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2000s
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2010s
2020s
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Alex Inglethorpe insists it is important for Liverpool FC to bring through local talent". Liverpool Echo. 7 September 2014. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
- ^ "Reserves Travel – Liverpool FC". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
- ^ "Photos: Jordan's rise through LFC's ranks". Liverpool F.C. 23 September 2014. Archived from the original on 13 October 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
- ^ Griffiths, Ian (22 March 2003). "Just for kicks". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2006.
- ^ "Sándor Károly Football Academy". Retrieved 24 March 2015.
The Academy also has a partnership agreement with Liverpool FC. The Academy is regularly inspected by representatives of this outstanding club to be informed about the players' development first hand.
[permanent dead link] - ^ a b "LFC International Academy – International Courses". Liverpool F.C. Archived from the original on 28 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
- ^ "LFC International Football Academy Scandinavia". Liverpool F.C. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
- ^ "LFC International Football Academy America". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
- ^ "CS United Soccer Club". CS United Soccer Club. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
- ^ "LFC International Football Academy Egypt". Liverpool F.C. Archived from the original on 1 April 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
- ^ "LFC International Football Academy South Africa". Liverpool F.C. Archived from the original on 23 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
- ^ "LFC International Football Academy Guilin". Liverpool F.C. Archived from the original on 24 June 2009. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
- ^ "LFC International Football Academy DSK Shivajians". Liverpool F.C. Archived from the original on 1 April 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
- ^ "LFC International Football Academy Japan". Liverpool F.C. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
- ^ "Luke Chambers joins Wigan Athletic on loan". Liverpool FC. 6 August 2024.
- ^ "Calum Scanlon joins Millwall on loan". Liverpool FC. 29 August 2024.
- ^ "Kaide Gordon completes loan switch to Norwich City". Liverpool FC. 31 August 2024.
- ^ "Owen Beck completes season-long loan move to Blackburn Rovers". Liverpool FC. 27 August 2024.
- ^ "Lewis Koumas signs new Liverpool contract and joins Stoke City on loan". Liverpool FC. 10 August 2024.
- ^ "Luca Stephenson completes loan switch to Dundee United". Liverpool FC. 15 August 2024.
- ^ Shaw, Chris (26 July 2024). "Fabian Mrozek signs new contract with Liverpool and joins IF Brommapojkarna on loan". Liverpool FC.
- ^ "Academy, U21s and U18s". Liverpool F.C. Archived from the original on 9 August 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
- ^ "Dynasty: The Joe Fagan Years 1983-1985". LiverpoolHistory.net. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
- ^ "Suarez bags treble at awards dinner". Liverpool F.C. 6 May 2014. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
Hot prospect Jordan Rossiter scooped the Academy Players' Player of the Year honour
- ^ "Rossiter: This prize means the world". Liverpool F.C. 8 May 2014. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
- ^ "2015 Players Awards". Official Site Liverpool FC. 18 May 2015. Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- ^ "Quartet of accolades for Philippe Coutinho at LFC Players' Awards". Liverpool FC. 12 May 2016. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
- ^ Shaw, Chris (9 May 2017). "Sadio Mane takes top prizes at LFC Players' Awards". Liverpool F.C. Archived from the original on 13 May 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
- ^ Shaw, Chris (10 May 2018). "Mohamed Salah takes top prizes at LFC Players' Awards". Liverpool F.C. Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
Sources
edit- Who's Who of Liverpool (2006): Tony Matthews
- LFCHistory.net
External links
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