In 2002/2003 I returned ‘home’ to Liverpool from California to coach at the Liverpool FC Academy while at the same time studying the Football Industries MBA at the University of Liverpool, created by Rogan Taylor. I studied the MBA on the condition I could coach at Liverpool FC Academy. Steve Heighway was the Academy Director at the time and Assistant Academy Director/Academy Manager John Owens brought me into the club. My time in Liverpool was made easier and enjoyable seeing Carine play for Liverpool FC Women’s team.
John’s reason for hiring me was due to my experience with Wiel Coerver, for my ability to demonstrate technique to the players and because he wanted bring new ideas to the club. I learned that I was the only ‘foreign’ coach at the Academy, despite being born in Liverpool. Perhaps my accent from my time in NZ, Australia and USA meant I was no longer a scouser! :(
I told John and Steve that I initially didn’t want to be paid because they hadnt seen me coach yet and I wanted them to only pay me if they wanted to keep me because of my quality. At the end of the first week I received a pay check, something that I’m proud of because I earned it and I was contributing to making Liverpool FC and it’s players better.
On day 1 while training the U10 boys team I was observed by the Academy coaching staff. On the team was the son of the then Assistant Manager of Liverpool FC and European Cup Winner/Liverpool FC ex-Captain, Phil Thompson as well as the son of Liverpool Czech National team star Patrick Berger so they were always watching the sessions. I was was coaching the team together with another coach (he coached China U21 National team; Jordan U20 National team; Premier League Asst. Manager at Bolton FC; Assistant Manager to Neil Lennon at Steau Bucharest; Burnley FC). At the end of practice the boys tested me, asking me to strike a ball through a tire mounted on top of a 15ft wooden tower on wheels (made by John Owens) 20 yards away. What the players and coaches didn’t know was that I practiced striking every day and could do this consistently. I did it on my first try and was immediately accepted by the boys who started calling me ‘Gazza’, respectfully of course :). I learned quite a it while i was there.
Steve Heighway said to the coaches frequently “you need to put on a top quality demonstration and if you cant, then you need to pick a player who can”. He emphasized the use of the arms and upper-body posture when feinting more than any other coach I had worked with beyond my ‘inner circle’ of technicians. I knew he ‘got it’ and was excited that someone of his stature was going into the important granular material that separates great players from good players. I discovered they placed a lot of emphasis on the ‘Gerrard punch pass’ (I was at Liverpool FC when Gerrard was at the height of his game so the young players were seeing his incredible striking which he reminded at the Academy as a young boy himself under John and Steve's tutelage) and the quality of players 1st touch. I would have liked to have seen more individual all work/relationship but overall you could see the value they placed on technical work. Steve and John also talked about the importance of complimenting players when deserved. Occasionally I would stay behind after practice and strike balls with one of the coaches and I would often spend time practicing alone after the players and staff had left. I was missing playing and wanted to retain my movement and touch One exercise Steve Heighway showed the youth players was one I was not as good at doing as I would have liked to have been. My demonstration wasn't good enough because I felt stiff and awkward. I spent the next 5 nights until late in the evening in our hotel gym dance studio mirroring the exercise until I got the movement right. It was very important that I provided a good visual demonstration for the players, especially seeing I was still at playing age. I’ve never understood ex-players (especially the ones who haven’t been injured) not continuing to try and improve their technique so they can provide strong visual picture/example of what they were asking of their players. The ability to provide what I call ‘strong visuals’, (a phrase i coined in 2004) was the reason Wiel Coverer and Vogelsinger also hired me. It’s as a loss to the game when Pro. players go into management instead of working with younger players who need their help and knowledge the most. As a player why would you not want to continue physically moving and staying fit? Many former players become inactive, put on extra weight and blame old injuries or don’t want to risk being judged for not moving like they once did in their playing days. Protecting ones ego, low compensation, lack of status and prestige all play a part why we don't get these incredible and inspirational knowledge resources. It’s hard for many ex-players to ‘come down’ to perceived ‘lower levels’ without the attention that comes along with being a famous athlete. There is a certain amount of humility and patience needs exercising when working with younger players. Former players could be doing a better job of taking care of themselves.
When I arrived in Liverpool I attempted to keep playing, while studying full time and coaching part time at the Academy. I was so busy that I was changing in my car at the traffic lights to make it on time. I trained at Marine FC (the former club of my father before he was signed by Leeds United) for 1 session, scored a few memorable goals and was invited back but upon looking at the game schedule I wasn’t able to play and coach at the same time, so knowing my playing career was over, I decided to focus on my studies and coaching. But I was thrilled to at least have played a training game and impressed the Marine F.C coaches, just like my father had done on the same ground in the 1960’s.
I enjoyed Friday the night coaches games at the Academy after practice where I got to play after a week of classes and coaching. The former co-founder of the Premier League and then CEO of Liverpool FC Rick Parry was our GK. I was impressed to see that he loved to play even when he was Liverpool FC CEO.
I’m still in contact with some of the Academy staff. John is ‘family’, close collaborator and one of my mentors. He stayed with us in the US on several occasions and also visited us in the Bay Area and LA when he was assessing the MLS Academies for Doublepass. I’ve taken him to Southern California to do coach education for Abner Rogers ECNL club coaches with Irvine Strikers and to Hungary to present at a coaches symposium alongside me. Other Academy coaches have since gone onto coach MK Dons, Salford, Liverpool FC Women's team, Jordan Mens & Womens national teams, English F.A to name a few.