Liverpool could owe a debt of gratitude to former manager Rafa Benitez for his part in revamping the Liverpool youth academy that has been in decline in recent years. In the summer of 2009 Kirkby was transformed with the help of Rodolfo Borrell and Pep Segura, who were key figures in the set-up of Barcleona’s academy. Benitez also brought back one-time chief scout Frank McParland to oversee the progression of Liverpool’s rising stars.
It is hoped it won’t be long before the next wonder kids are coming through and breaking into the reserve and first team. If the foundations that Rafa has put in place start to bear fruit then Liverpool stand to save millions on transfer fees. Who will be the next Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher or Michael Owen?
There have been places in the first team squad this season for the highly rated duo of Jay Spearing and Martin Kelly. So it appears there is already evidence that Liverpool can start to produce their own players again. The excellent youth and scouting system that has been put in place is not purely reserved to British players. Take the example of Daniel Pacheco, who is currently on loan at Championship side Norwich City. Pacheco was playing for the Barcelona academy before being recruited into the Liverpool reserves and then the first team. It remains to be seen how good of player he will be, but he certainly has a lot of potential.
[bet_365 type=’generic’ size=’468′ af_code=’365_061434′]
The bottom line is the future for Liverpool looks bright and there is plenty of evidence to suggest Liverpool can produce some real stars. There is something about seeing your club’s youth players breaking into the first team and you just know these youngsters are thrilled just to play for the club. You do sometimes wonder with these foreign signings how much they value playing for the club and how much they really care. However, when a player has come through the youth system (even if they aren’t British) you feel they have become part of the family of that great club. They just want to go out there and impress the fans and you can be sure they value the opportunity they have been given.
The Premier League needs the next crop of young and hungry British players and I am delighted to see that Liverpool are doing all they can to produce them. Rafa Benitez did many great things for Liverpool and I am pleased to see even after he has left his legacy will live on through the next crop of Liverpool’s rising stars.
The article was written by James Kent for FootballFancast.com. Make sure to check out the latest news, blogs and podcasts at FFC – ed.
Follow us on twitter @live4Liverpool or like us on Facebook
Live4Liverpool is recruiting columnists. For further info contact the site editor at live4liverpool@snack-media.com
We owe far more to Rafa than he will ever be given credit for,even dare i say from some of our own supporters,i push for a Dalglish/Benitez dream team
to see LFC into a brilliant future Kenny for man management and Rafa for tactics!! any takers? ynwa
Its funny, because with all the positives, of which there are few, there are many many negatives of which one can write about Rafa’s time at Liverpool. just look at the current state of our squad for starters. And before you go on a rant about how was limited in funds, and yes he was, but buying 4 or 5 s***e players instead of investing it in 1 maybe 2 world class players would have been more advantageous for everyone. Yet Rafa is Rafa and he is never wrong, just look at his time at Milan.
I for one am glad he is gone, for all his passion for Liverpool, and for all the “good” he has achieved, his managerial skills, on and off the field, as well as his man management towards the players, I never want to see him at Anfield again. peace YNWA
kenny has already done this ? everyone knows it was rafa’s doing ? are you on a desert island.
He fought the evil Americans tooth and nail and clearly loves Liverpool FC. Some people say he was a failure but considering the resources he was given in his last years as LFC manager I would say we were over-achieving. YNWA Rafa!
the people who lied an said bad thing about him knew he was a threat 2 dem or there club. True about torres rafa made in 2 a goal machine, i wonder y red nose has stopped having a dig at us. IN RAFA WE TRUST
in regards 2 bargeass he never had full control ov tranfers look at redknapp he has 2 strong teams in his line up an he cant get a top 4. rafa needed 2 make up 4 thin squad
Rafa Benitez must be credited for revamping the academy and improving the youth system. Without Rafa the academy would be rubbish and there would be no players who would be able to cut it in the first team.
However, Rafa’s work in regards to the academy would mean nothing if you have an old-fashioned manager who is not interested in bringing through youth and who clearly favours British youngsters. Promising foreigners like Mavinga, Suso and Pacheco will not get a sniff in the first team no matter how good they are because the manager clearly prefers British guys even if they are not good enough. If the manager continues to treat foreign youngsters like they are doing now then the club would not be able to attract top young talent in the future because they know that they will not be given a chance in the first team. If an average Spearing can play week in week out for the first team and a U19 European Championship Golden Boot winner Pacheco is not being treated fairly then there is clearly something wrong with the way foreign youngsters are being treated. British youngsters will always be favoured if you have coaches like Roy and Kenny in charge.
The man who actually stood up against fergie
who care… now to change england 21 with tactic.. can rafa get the job????