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“Keep an eye out for Ayden Danns, Lewis Koumas, and Bobby Clark as they made an impression during Wednesday’s game for Liverpool. Danns scored twice and Koumas scored the first goal in their 3-0 victory over Southampton in the fifth round of the FA Cup.”
All three of them are sons of well-known fathers, specifically Neil Danns, Jason Koumas, and Lee Clark, who were all professional football players in the Premier League. This is not a unique situation for Liverpool, as Manchester City also has twin brothers Jaden and Reigan Heskey and brothers Jack and Tyler Fletcher, whose father is Darren, in their youth academy. However, Liverpool’s academy seems to have a higher number of promising players with famous fathers. For example, Keyrol Figueroa, whose father is former Wigan defender Maynor, and Prince Kobe Cissé, whose father is the 2005 Champions League winner Djibril, are also part of the academy. Additionally, Marcus Neill, son of former Australian international Lucas, recently left the academy to join Sunderland.
What is the cause of this trend at Liverpool? According to Alex Inglethorpe, the academy director of the club, signing the children of former professionals is not a deliberate plan, but a result of several factors coming together.
According to Inglethorpe, if ex-players choose to live in the vicinity, the club serves as a likely point of contact for them. It is commonly assumed that being the child of a former player, one would be exposed to football and potentially develop an interest in the sport. When this is combined with the genetic advantage of athletic ability inherited from their father, it is understandable that they excel in the sport. However, with a total of 160-180 boys enrolled in the academy, these sons of former players make up a small percentage of the overall numbers.
Figueroa is expected to be the next player to make an effort to earn a spot in Jürgen Klopp’s team. The 17-year-old attacker, who is originally from Honduras like his father but is also a USA youth international, is currently with the under-18 squad. Cissé, another young forward, is only 15 years old, so it seems unlikely that he will follow in the footsteps of Danns, Koumas, and Clark and play for the first team this season.
“I regularly converse with those five individuals, both on and off the field,” states Inglethorpe. “Unless they initiate a conversation about their fathers, I avoid bringing it up as I believe it can be a weight on their shoulders. I don’t want to contribute to any pressure they may already have in their minds about surpassing their fathers’ accomplishments. They each have their own identities and talents.”
Inglethorpe characterizes the junior academy, for children aged eight to 13, as comparable to a top-tier Sunday League club. The facilities and coaches are excellent, and the uniforms are top-notch. However, the senior academy operates differently, as the methods and approach to training and preparing boys at 14 are altered to include data and nutrition. As a result, the messaging also shifts.
Is it possible that being the children of famous footballers has already shaped their approach to the game? Perhaps they have a natural understanding of what it takes to succeed at the highest level and recognize the sacrifices necessary in terms of physical fitness, rest, social obligations, and nutrition. Inglethorpe expresses his satisfaction with their development as young players and acknowledges their diverse paths to the academy, whether it be starting at a young age, coming from grassroots football, or joining later on from another club. It’s wonderful that each of them has a unique story to tell.
The transfer of Clark from Newcastle generated a lot of attention as Liverpool apparently paid £1.5m for the midfielder. According to his father, Lee, Liverpool successfully completed the deal. Last year, Lee explained to the Echo, “Once Bobby made the decision to leave Newcastle, he spoke with four or five clubs who had agreed to pay Newcastle a fee.” He also mentioned that Bobby was impressed by the extensive knowledge Liverpool had of him and their belief in his potential as a first-team player. Bobby had known Liverpool from a young age through close family friends, such as Terry McDermott, and understood the significance of the club.
The story of how Clark came to Liverpool seems indirectly related to his father but Inglethorpe says Lee “wasn’t involved” in contract negotiations. “He was there as a father, but hugely respectful. If your son goes and works in a bank tomorrow, you’re not meeting with the bank manager, asking if he’s going to be on the tills or somewhere in the back, are you? There comes a time when you’ve got to let them be.
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I am unsure if these five individuals, who have former player parents, have the necessary skills to meet the rigorous demands of modern football. In my opinion, natural ability can carry you until you’re 16 years old, but it’s a person’s character that can carry them into their mid-thirties. The competition to make it onto the Liverpool team, which aims for success in both domestic and European tournaments, is extremely intense. Therefore, it is important to continue putting in effort, avoid comparing yourself to others, and be patient in pursuing your goals, just like any other young player regardless of their family background.
Parents play a crucial role in the development of young players, regardless of their background. Inglethorpe states that the majority of parents they work with are respectful and trust the decisions of coaches. While there may be some parents who are not completely satisfied, most understand the challenges of the sport. Unlike school exams, football involves subjective opinions and predictions about a player’s potential. Coaches may also make mistakes in their evaluations at times.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s parents did not have careers as football players, but he received numerous messages about the importance of being resilient. In an interview, Robin van Persie discussed a conversation he had with his son Shaqueel, who was attending PSV’s academy, in which he emphasized the value of not letting oneself become a victim. Van Persie stressed the importance of not having a defeatist mindset and not placing the blame on others, including coaches and teammates. The focus was on developing a proactive attitude. This was an intriguing perspective.
Klopp is another example of a proactive individual. It takes a group effort to develop and coach a young football player to reach the highest level, and Klopp’s unwavering belief in these young players, even in high-stakes games, is something remarkable.
“I consider myself lucky to be a part of Liverpool during a time when the first-team staff have a true interest and excitement in our young players,” explains Inglethorpe. “Jürgen is known to have conversations with his staff about these players, observe them in action, and discuss them. What sets him apart is his willingness to actually play these young players. He has the courage to give them opportunities, not just in unimportant games.”
Source: theguardian.com
