Rafa's Legacy

When Liverpool u18 demolished Southend u18 9-0 on Valentines Day, my thoughts were of a person who changed a lot of my views on football.

Of course, you may have guessed already if you know me, that person is Rafael Benitez. His vision, and quite frankly his guts, in personally overseeing the overhaul of our youth academy is what we starting to see the fruits of now.

Many eyebrows were raised when Steve Heighway was shown the door in 2007. It was widely accepted that he was doing a good job, bringing the Gerrard’s and Owen’s through, although part of this was self praise.

Heighway stated that ‘no one was better at coaching 17-18 year olds’ than he was. Well, it seems that history may be proving him wrong.

A rapid overhaul was in motion and much of this went unnoticed by the press who were too busy concentrating on Rafa’s press conferences to see the work that was being prepared.

Rodolfo Borrell was brought in as coach after building a glittering reputation with Barcelona and Jose Segura was signed as Academy Director. The vision Benitez had was to build a multi-national football school that scoured the planet for the best prospects.

Liverpool invested heavily in bringing in 17 year olds, many of whom didn’t work out, but that’s all part of the game at that level. The truth is many of us only hear about the 17 year old and older signings. Young players at that age are almost developed to their maximum.

The pressure and demand in the Premiership today, and with the success and talent of players like Fabregas, Wilshire, Aaron Lennon, James Milner and others indicates that if you’re not on the peripheral of 1st team affairs by the time you’re 20 then the door starts closing fast.

It’s only now, four years after Heighway leaving that we’re starting to see the investment shine through. Liverpool, did of course win the Youth Cup two years running with Heighway, but in truth it amounted to nothing.

There are differences now however, from the perceived success of 2006 and 2007.
There is a bigger focus on the catchment area, the average age of the u18’s is younger and there is a bigger emphasis on passing football.

Previously, Liverpool seemed to have focussed on ‘British’ players, and by that I mean the search for the elusive all-rounder, box-to-box stereotypical Roy of the Rovers. Now, as should be the case, there is a bigger emphasis on technical specialists.

We’ve seen other teams such as Arsenal, Man City and even Southampton blooding younger players who have outstanding ability in one or two areas. Only when they become first team members do they start to truly develop that ‘grit and drive’ that comes with age.

Players such as Linfield, Threlfalll and even Spearing who are now in their 20’s where once the brightest stars in the team, but they never quite hit the heights and where quickly surpassed by their peers at other clubs.

Now though, after years of investment in players like Raheem Sterling, Suso and JonJo Shelvey, things are starting to look different.

There is a fresher, more technical approach to the academy and it’s players, dare we say ‘continental’, all brought in by Segura and his team.

So it’s to Rafael Benitez who I think the credit should go. His work away from first team matters, including bringing Dalglish back to the club and therefore back into management contention, has rejuvenated and restructured the club to long term success.

Despite the board room fall outs, intense pressure to keep the media at bay along with the interferring and egotism concerning Chris Purslow, Rafa built something that may one day be more important than the 2005 Champions League success.

So Kenny Dalglish, along with Rodolfo Borrell, Frank McParland, John Owens and Jose Segura are doing, have the duty to carry the torch forward.

We might have been left short in immediate squad depth, but the future is bright, and those who are doing outstanding work currently with the Liverpool youth set-up need only carry on their work to ensure Rafa’s legacy and vision is not in vain.

By Chris Severs