When the youngsters at Liverpool’s Academy returned to pre-season training on Monday there was a familiar face waiting to greet them.
Rafa Benitez had taken time out from his hectic Melwood schedule to make the short trip to the Kirkby facility and the presence of the Reds boss had an instant effect on the teenagers who dream of one day graduating to his first team squad.
“It was fantastic to see the manager down here,” said recently appointed Academy director Frank McParland.
“You could see it in the lads faces – every single one of them was delighted to see him and they listened intently to every single word he had to say to them.
“But you could see it even more in the way they have trained since then because there has been a spring in their step and a real buzz about the place.”
Not that it is all down to the Benitez factor of course. There is also the small matter of a 24-carat club legend – Kenny Dalglish – whose return has excited anyone and everyone who has Liverpool’s best interests at heart.
“Kenny’s a special person,” said McParland. “So just to have him around the place makes a real difference.
“If you think of what he has achieved in the game as a player and a manager then it really does give you goosebumps.
“The experience he brings is something that we can all tap into. Not just the youngsters but also myself and the coaching staff here.
“Football is at the very core of Kenny’s being and the knowledge he has is going to be such an inspiration to all of us.
“I saw an interview with Kenny recently in which he said he was relishing working at the Academy, well I think I can safely speak for everyone here when I say that we are all relishing working with him.”
If Dalglish brings experience, then there are others who bring youth and it is this mix which McParland believes bodes well for the future of the Academy as it attempts to kick start the production line to Liverpool’s first team which has been faltering of late.
“I’m not here to talk about what happened in the past, all that matters now is what happens in the future and if what I have seen so far is anything to go by then the future for the Academy is undoubtedly bright,” said the 50-year-old.
“It is all about getting the right blend and this is exactly what we feel we are doing.
“Obviously there is Kenny who brings with him that wealth of experience.
“We have appointed Jose Segura as technical manager and he has wonderful coaching experience but with a bit more of a continental perspective, so straight away there is a blend there – it gives us the best of both worlds.
“If you look at the players who Jose worked with at Barcelona – the likes of Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, Gerard Pique and so on – then his track record of producing quality footballers is up there with any youth coach in the European game and we are delighted that he is now working with us.
“We have also brought Rodolfo Borrell in to work on the coaching side of things and he also comes with a fantastic reputation that he earned at Barcelona.
“Even in his first days at the Academy it is easy to see why he is so highly regarded.
“He is so naturally exuberant and so good at getting his message across and the young players are already really enjoying working with him.
“Along with hard work and dedication, enjoyment is one of the keys to producing good players.
“If the lads enjoy coming in on a daily basis then they are going to stand a much better chance of making it and Rodolfo is playing a big part in making sure that this is the case.
“I’ve got to say as well that one of the things that has pleased me most is that Jamie Carragher is continuing to come up here to work on his coaching.
“Can you imagine what it’s like for a 15-year-old or 16-year-old lad who dreams of making it as a Liverpool player to work with someone who has actually achieved their dream?
“Every time they see him they not only see what is possible if they work as hard as he did, but they also see a tremendous example of how to conduct yourself as a Liverpool player.
”Just by being here Carra is giving the lads a massive boost and by working with them then it just adds to the mix and supports what we are trying to achieve here.”
Rafa Benitez had taken time out from his hectic Melwood schedule to make the short trip to the Kirkby facility and the presence of the Reds boss had an instant effect on the teenagers who dream of one day graduating to his first team squad.
“It was fantastic to see the manager down here,” said recently appointed Academy director Frank McParland.
“You could see it in the lads faces – every single one of them was delighted to see him and they listened intently to every single word he had to say to them.
“But you could see it even more in the way they have trained since then because there has been a spring in their step and a real buzz about the place.”
Not that it is all down to the Benitez factor of course. There is also the small matter of a 24-carat club legend – Kenny Dalglish – whose return has excited anyone and everyone who has Liverpool’s best interests at heart.
“Kenny’s a special person,” said McParland. “So just to have him around the place makes a real difference.
“If you think of what he has achieved in the game as a player and a manager then it really does give you goosebumps.
“The experience he brings is something that we can all tap into. Not just the youngsters but also myself and the coaching staff here.
“Football is at the very core of Kenny’s being and the knowledge he has is going to be such an inspiration to all of us.
“I saw an interview with Kenny recently in which he said he was relishing working at the Academy, well I think I can safely speak for everyone here when I say that we are all relishing working with him.”
If Dalglish brings experience, then there are others who bring youth and it is this mix which McParland believes bodes well for the future of the Academy as it attempts to kick start the production line to Liverpool’s first team which has been faltering of late.
“I’m not here to talk about what happened in the past, all that matters now is what happens in the future and if what I have seen so far is anything to go by then the future for the Academy is undoubtedly bright,” said the 50-year-old.
“It is all about getting the right blend and this is exactly what we feel we are doing.
“Obviously there is Kenny who brings with him that wealth of experience.
“We have appointed Jose Segura as technical manager and he has wonderful coaching experience but with a bit more of a continental perspective, so straight away there is a blend there – it gives us the best of both worlds.
“If you look at the players who Jose worked with at Barcelona – the likes of Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, Gerard Pique and so on – then his track record of producing quality footballers is up there with any youth coach in the European game and we are delighted that he is now working with us.
“We have also brought Rodolfo Borrell in to work on the coaching side of things and he also comes with a fantastic reputation that he earned at Barcelona.
“Even in his first days at the Academy it is easy to see why he is so highly regarded.
“He is so naturally exuberant and so good at getting his message across and the young players are already really enjoying working with him.
“Along with hard work and dedication, enjoyment is one of the keys to producing good players.
“If the lads enjoy coming in on a daily basis then they are going to stand a much better chance of making it and Rodolfo is playing a big part in making sure that this is the case.
“I’ve got to say as well that one of the things that has pleased me most is that Jamie Carragher is continuing to come up here to work on his coaching.
“Can you imagine what it’s like for a 15-year-old or 16-year-old lad who dreams of making it as a Liverpool player to work with someone who has actually achieved their dream?
“Every time they see him they not only see what is possible if they work as hard as he did, but they also see a tremendous example of how to conduct yourself as a Liverpool player.
”Just by being here Carra is giving the lads a massive boost and by working with them then it just adds to the mix and supports what we are trying to achieve here.”
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