9 hours ago
18
Rob Page has expressed his delight at his new role at Liverpool, as the U21s boss discussed the fresh challenge that marked his return to management this summer.
The 51-year-old led Wales to its first World Cup in 64 years when the country qualified for the 2022 finals in Qatar and also guided the country to the second round of the delayed Euro 2020, held in 2021.
Page left the position in June 2024 and was awaiting his next opportunity when he was approached by Liverpool's long-standing Academy director, Alex Inglethorpe. In a significant coup at youth level, the Reds announced that Page would be succeeding Barry Lewtas as U21s boss in late June, and his initial months on the job have been hugely enjoyable, he revealed during a pitchside conversation in Istanbul.
The former Watford and Sheffield United center-back, who was speaking after watching the Reds' U19s Galatasaray at Esenler Stadium on Tuesday, said: "It's completely different to what I have been used to, but I am absolutely loving it.
"We've got great staff here, when you work with young players like we've seen today, there's a great energy every day when you come in.
"It is not just this group, it is the U21s group as well. People like Jay Spearing and the staff I have got there, it is an incredible place to work and I am loving it.
"I had a conversation with Alex and came over, had a look around the place and probably didn't even contemplate it until I had that conversation with Alex.
"I knew I wanted a project, I didn't just want to go back into management, I wanted something that made it exciting for me.
"And one of the best parts of my coaching career so far was watching the Wales U21s, watching them develop as young players and to be given the opportunity to do that at a club like Liverpool was a no-brainer and I am loving it."
Page, who earned 41 caps for Wales during his playing career before managing the nation at U17s, U19s, U21s, and senior level, continued: "Whether it is getting players into the first team at Liverpool or a career in the game, that is the aim. And because I have been a club manager, it makes it a bit more real for the players as well.
"When I was a club manager, I wasn't overwhelmed by the U21s league. So for me, it is coming here to Galatasaray, in an environment like this and a pitch like that, it wasn't all about playing lovely football at the end, we had to dig deep.
"And there's a bit of realism of what they can expect if they go out on loan and play club football because a manager has got to trust his job.
"So if they take a player from us the player will give absolutely everything, with and without the ball, so that's the challenge I've got. It's making sure the players are capable of doing both sides of it for when they are needed to go out on loan."
Will Wright, who Liverpool managed to secure from Salford City in August, beating Arsenal in the process, is expected to be a crucial player for Page's team this season.
However, the 17 year old is currently out of action due to ligament damage, with Page disclosing: "It wasn't a bad bad one, it wasn't [in need of] surgery, but it's going to be a couple of months [out].
"It's not a quick turnaround, unfortunately for him. It wasn't the main ligament he's damaged, it was the one on the inside, so it is not as bad as we thought."
English (US) ·