McManaman: "It's great to be back"

Steve McManaman says it's "great to be back" and hopes to play a part in the development of the next local youngster to follow in the footsteps of the likes of himself, Robbie Fowler, Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard.

The winger returned to the club recently in a 'coaching and mentoring' capacity along with Fowler and Rob Jones and will work with the up and coming stars at the Academy, and it's a role he's attacking with relish.

“It’s great to be back involved at Liverpool and it’s going really well,” he told the Liverpool Echo. “Robbie, Rob and myself were all flattered to be asked by Brendan and we’re just there to help in any way we can. We’ve all got other commitments as well so it’s a flexible arrangement where we’re able to go down whenever we want."

The trio are working on a part time basis with the under 18 and under 21 squads, and McManaman says they are just there to assist the coaches and help the youngsters in any way they can: “Alex Inglethorpe and Neil Critchley are the main men. They are the coaches and they take the sessions. We’re there to contribute if we see anything we think the youngsters could work on to become better players.

“Robbie and myself both joined Liverpool as young kids, we’ve been through that process of working your way up through the system and then making that jump into the first-team squad. If any of the kids want to ask questions or bounce ideas off us we’re there. They’ve got our phone numbers.

“There’s some real talent coming through and if we can help in a small way with that extra 2% that can make the difference then it will be worth it.  Fans love to see youngsters make that breakthrough. You can feel the buzz in the crowd. They all want to see the next Stevie or Carra.”

McManaman is now looking to get more heavily involved in coaching and is thankful to Rodgers for bringing him on board, adding “It’s a great opportunity that Brendan has given us as former players. Coaching is something I’m looking at. I went over to Ireland a few years ago to do the B Licence.  Robbie is further down the road than Rob or I as he’s trying to get his A Licence at the moment. I’m just trying to learn as much as possible off the great coaches at the Academy. I’m picking up ideas off Alex and Neil.”

Do you think McManaman has a future in coaching, and are you happy to see him back at the club again?