Liverpool consider Neal for Academy job
Liverpool legend Phil Neal is being considered for a new post in the club’s youth Academy in the wake of Steve Heighway’s retirement.
Neal is the most decorated player in the club’s history, with 17 winners’ medals including eight league titles and four European Cups.
He has managerial experience with Bolton, Coventry and Manchester City, and is seen as an ideal potential figurehead for the Academy, involved in signing youngsters and taking on an ambassadorial role.
Heighway, who leaves having seen his side win the FA Youth Cup for two successive seasons, had total command of the Academy at Kirkby, a role that at times brought him into conflict with former boss Gerard Houllier.
Now following his departure, current manager Rafael Benitez wants to overhaul the running of the Academy, having more involvement himself but also employing a range of new coaches who will carry out his own policies.
Benitez does not want to run the Academy, but believes it is essential his opinion carries far more weight on youth matters.
Having successfully run Real Madrid’s academy, the Spaniard has clear ideas on policy and technical coaching.
Neal would be an ideal choice as a ’father figure’, having tremendous respect in the city and the club for his role as skipper in the great years of the 70s and 80s.
He joined Liverpool in 1974 as Bob Paisley’s first signing and went on to make 648 appearances.
During an era of unprecedented success he won eight league titles, four European Cups, four League Cups and the UEFA Cup.
