LIVERPOOL FC’s 19 year old defender Andre Wisdom has recently talked about how Jamie Carragher teaching him when he was just a young boy has helped him materialise into the player he is now. Wisdom was one of the boys Carragher taught when he was working for his UEFA coaching licences, and Wisdom was keen to reflect on this experience in a column for the Liverpool FC magazine.
”I was in the under 16’s, I remember Jamie Carragher taking some of our sessions as part of his coaching qualifications. From there I progressed through the ranks.”
Since then, Wisdom has broken into the first team and is now playing alongside the veteran who once coached him.
”To now be playing with him is great. I learned a lot from him back then and I’m still learning a lot from him now. He’s still coaching me in training. In fact, I think he coaches everyone. He passes on so much information that he’s almost doing the job of a coach already.”
Wisdom has always been big for his age, and this build helped him to make an impact at youth level for both club and country. However, Wisdom concedes that he can no longer rely just on his size to hold his own in the Premiership.
”In each of the games I’ve played someone has tried to wind me up or intimidate me, it doesn’t work because I can look after myself. I enjoy giving banter back too. When I was younger my physical attributes would sometimes get me out of trouble. In the Premier League you can’t rely on those as much because a lot of the players are big, strong and quick. You have to be good both technically and tactically. Those are areas I’m always working on.”
Wisdom was primarily a centre-back as he rose through the ranks at Liverpool, however on his break into the 1st team Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has utilised him at right-back. Wisdom spoke about whether he thinks he will be able to force his way back to the centre of defence.
”A lot of people have asked if I’ll play centre-back in a few years’ time,” he explained. “I just want to be on the pitch. Honestly, I’ll play anywhere. I played right-wing for the U18s and I could play in goal if I had to.”
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