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Liverpool’s new Under-18s coach Simon Wiles has revealed the proven pathway for academy players at Anfield was one of the major reasons he chose to join the club this summer.
The 40-year-old took up his new role at the beginning of the season, replacing the outgoing Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, who left at the end of the 2024/25 campaign after five years at the helm.
Wiles has enjoyed stints with Fleetwood Town and Salford City and, prior to his move to Liverpool, had been coach of Manchester United’s Under-14s. Yet he jumped at the opportunity to move down the M62 and join the club that handed more minutes to academy graduates last season in the Premier League than any other side.
“I think one thing for sure that we have got here is that opportunity and the pathway for young players to go and progress,” said Wiles, speaking exclusively to Liverpool.com in his first interview since taking up the role.
“That's one of the reasons why I wanted to be here. I wanted it to be part of the next generation of players that are coming through.”
Conor Bradley, Curtis Jones, Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni are living proof of that pathway. The Reds also made over £ 80million ($109M) from the sales of youth-team graduates such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Caoimhin Kelleher and Jarell Quansah.
The importance of developing the next generation of stars at Kirkby was underlined earlier this month by news that the club plans to spend £20M ($28M) on academy infrastructure upgrades, including a new indoor dome pitch. It’s an exciting time to join the club.
“The facility is outstanding as it is already,” said Wiles, glancing around the AXA Training Centre. “So the fact there's going to be a better one and a more improved one on what this currently is, is just going to be an amazing opportunity for any young player that comes to the club.”
Despite the progression of players in recent years, the Under-18s’ last few league campaigns have been underwhelming. Wiles hopes to improve on last season’s 11th-place finish, and began his new role with two consecutive league wins before falling to an unfortunate 4-3 defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday.
“It has been really good,” said the ex-Blackpool midfielder, when asked about his start to life at Kirkby. “I’m working with some really good people, some really good members of staff and I’m just really pleased at how the lads have started.
“I'm only five or six weeks in and I think the way that the lads put the performances in over the first three league games has been positive, but always still lots to work on and improve on, both individually and as a team. I’m looking forward to the next fixtures this week and then yeah, take it from there.”
Having worked in the EFL and at Under-14 level, the Under-18s offer a different challenge for Wiles.
“I think ultimately all you're looking to try and do, whatever ages that you're working with, is just try and find ways to get the best out of your players, whether that's working at 9s, 10s, 11s, 12s, or whether that is working with 18s, 21s.
“I think what you're trying to do is find the way that they work and how you can kind of stretch and challenge.
“It's the best job for me because you're out every single day, coaching and trying to work with the players and getting better.
“Obviously, it becomes a little bit more competitive when you're working at 18s, because there's a league that you're playing for and opportunities for lads to play up and get themselves into the UEFA Youth League squads and things like that. So all that side of it is great and something that I'm looking forward to as well.”
Wiles was chatting to Liverpool.com after an exhilarating game at Kirkby on Saturday in which Liverpool came from 3-1 down to draw level with Newcastle, before conceding an unfortunate late winner against the run of play.
“I think the one thing that I'm coming away from the game was the character that the lads showed to find themselves in a position 3-1 down and I think that the way that they kept trying to play, the way we wanted them to play and creating the opportunities that we created, I thought that was very good and I thought it was something that we can build on.
“I thought there were some really good moments in the game and I thought games are always won and lost on moments, aren't they?
“I think some of our mistakes were our own doing. If you look back at the goals, that's probably the frustrating part and I think the lads will learn from that, which is great. But generally on the whole, I was really pleased with certain aspects of it.”
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