New u-18's coach

[Bech]

Cesc Fabregas, Gerard Pique and Lionel Messi - a crop of superstars who all owe a debt of gratitude to Liverpool's new under-18s coach Rodolfo Borrell.

 

The Spanish tactician's 13-year spell within Barcelona's youth system saw him nurture some of the world's best footballers, a track record that convinced Rafael Benitez that he can help the Reds unearth the next Steven Gerrard.

 

It's a challenge that most coaches would find daunting; but not Borrell, who has already laid down a marker of his intent after leading the Academy youngsters to glory in two prestigious pre-season tournaments - including the club's first success on foreign soil in five years.

 

As we caught up with him ahead of the under-18s' first FA Premier Academy League match of the season at Fulham on Saturday, he told us all about his plans for the future.

 

First of all Rodolfo, welcome to Liverpool Football Club...

 

Thank you. It's great to be here.

 

You've made an impressive start to life in England, securing two trophies in pre-season. How pleased are you with your early success?

 

There were some big teams from all around Europe in each competition so it was a good achievement to win both. I have only been here just over a month but it is a very good start for me, the club and everyone at the Academy. These trips are always good for getting to know the players better too.

 

What are your first impressions of the current under-18 squad?

They are competitive, have good quality and good discipline. I have to admit I was a little bit surprised by how well we did in the tournaments though. The competitions were for players born in 1991 and we had a number of players who were born in 1992 and 1993. We were a lot younger than some of these teams, who were also of a high level, but we still managed to beat them. It only bodes well for the future.

 

How will it benefit the players to have gone head-to-head with some of the continent's best young talent?

 

Playing against these types of teams will give them a better knowledge of football in general. They can learn about how to face opponents with different styles and alternative philosophies. This will help them to grow as players.

 

What is your main objective as under-18s coach?

 

First of all, I haven't come here thinking about Spanish players or foreign players. I come from a club that shows working hard with local youngsters can prove successful. Look at the first-team of Barcelona. You have Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Victor Valdes, Gerard Pique - there's even Lionel Messi because although he is from Argentina he arrived at the club at such a young age. In fact, I was actually his first coach at Barca...

 

That's interesting... could you tell that he would go on to be a top player, even at such a young age?

 

Yes, it was obvious he was a tremendously gifted player. He didn't stay long with me because he made rapid progress through the ranks. It's no surprise that he is now one of the best in the world. I'm proud to be able to say I was his first coach at Barcelona.

 

You say your focus will be on local talent. Does that mean you are keen to bring through the next Steven Gerrard or Jamie Carragher?

 

I believe that the best players for Liverpool are local, English players. You can see that these type of players feel the colours of the team. Liverpool is a great European club and it is important that we all work the same way, from the Academy right through to the first-team at Melwood. If we do this, it should make it a bit easier for players to make it through to the first-team. That's the idea.

 

Have you arrived with a specific message for the players?

 

I have told the players that we have to improve in a lot of ways, but they must also understand they already have some qualities. English players have attributes that the rest of the world don't have. We should not lose sight of this and make sure we add to it.

 

How have you settled outside of the club? What are your initial thoughts of the city?

 

It isn't easy because you leave behind your home, your city, your family and friends. I haven't had much time to go and see much of Liverpool yet because I've been so busy with pre-season but the people I have met have been really friendly. I do find the accent difficult to come to terms with because my English isn't so good, but I think my wife and I will adapt soon.

 

What is it about Liverpool that attracted you to the job?

 

When you come from another place and you arrive at Liverpool, you can see that football is different here. The atmosphere around the club is unique. I used to go on the underground in Barcelona and I walked past the Sagrada Familia every day. When you have it in your city and you see it all the time, a moment finally arrives where you don't even notice it - even though people come from all over the world to see it. It's the same with Liverpool. If you are from the city the aura of the club is something you probably get used to. For outsiders it is very special. You can watch it on TV but nothing compares to experiencing Liverpool FC in person. There is something about the club that is impossible to find anywhere else.

 

For Liverpoolfc.tv readers who are unfamiliar with your work, can you tell us a little bit about your background?

 

I come from a small town near Barcelona and I grew up in a family that aren't huge football fans. I was seen as the strange one because I had such passion for the game at such a young age! I started out as a player but made a decision early on that if I couldn't be a top player, I would be a good coach instead.

 

So how did you end up at Barcelona Football Club?

 

To be honest, it is a long story, but I will tell you as it might be of interest. After hanging up my boots I studied for five years and eventually graduated from Barcelona's INEF University with a degree. I decided to speak with a director at Barcelona and told him I wanted to be a coach. At first they didn't take me on, but I went away and three months later this person came to the University where I was working. He saw me in the corridors and suggested something that would give me my chance. He told me that nobody was training the youngsters aged six, seven and eight years of age in the Barcelona area. At the time the youngest side Barcelona had was in the under-nine category. So my idea was to put together a team that would be the best at under-eight level. The first thing I did was assess all the players and select a pool of the most talented youngsters. I went to the federation and told them that we wanted to be in the league. They told me we would find it difficult but that it was good that we wanted to be a part of it. So we started the season and caused a few shocks at first, by winning 15-1, 9-0, 13-0 etc. Everybody started to talk about us and it wasn't long before we were being noticed. I remember we were top of the league and played an away match against the second placed team. We won it but the thing I remember most was that a scout from Barcelona was there for the very first time. He came to me at the end of the match and told me I must go to Barcelona and help out the current under-nine team. They needed six players more for a match and wanted some of my team to fill in. The success we had resulted in Barca deciding to make a new school for the kids who were six, seven and eight years old. They gave me the role of co-ordinator and the following season I was promoted to coach of the under-nines. A year later I went up another level and I began to progress through the age groups. I eventually became under-17 coach and in my 13 years there I think I won nine out of the last 10 league titles.

 

After leaving Barcelona you moved to Greece. What was your motivation for doing that?

 

I knew it would be very difficult for me to move beyond under-17 level at Barcelona and when an ex-player with the club asked me to go to Greece with him in the summer of 2008, I felt it represented a good opportunity working with a first-team. Iraklis FC aren't one of Greece's best teams though, and after a difficult start the ex-player was sacked as manager. They spoke to me and installed me as caretaker manager. I did okay in my time in charge and won three matches on the trot. My final match saw us face Olympiakos and we lost. I was happy with what I did there and returned to Barcelona on a six month contract as technical secretary and youth scout. All the teams had coaches so they asked me to travel and scout players for them until the end of the season.

 

So how did a move to Liverpool come about?

 

My role as scout took me all over the place, from the Under-17 European Championship in Germany to the Ivory Coast in Africa. It was while I was scouting abroad that I heard of Liverpool's interest. I was eating on my own in a restaurant when my phone rang. I answered and a voice said: "Hello, I am Rafael Benitez from Liverpool Football Club. Do you know who I am?" Of course I did. He explained his vision for the Academy and knew all about my history. He had already spoken with Pep Segura who was a key figure during my time in Barcelona. I returned to Spain and spoke to my boss and explained that I had been offered a great opportunity. They asked me to wait until the season, but they couldn't guarantee me a role above under-17 level and so I told them I was going to Liverpool.

 

Was it difficult leaving Barca for a second time?

 

Yes, it was very difficult to leave Barcelona again but the lure of Liverpool was too strong and I couldn't turn them down. Rafa is one of the best coaches in the world and is probably THE best one from Spain. Every coach has their own idea on tactics and how to approach things and I am similar to him in many ways. I can see that without talking to him and by simply watching how his teams play. The fact that he was here was one of the most important reasons for me to come to Liverpool.

 

Are you confident that over the next few years you will be able to produce players of a good enough quality to get into the first-team?

 

That is why I am here. If I didn't believe in this, I wouldn't have come. We know we have to improve in a lot of ways but that is our objective.

 

The first match of the FA Premier Academy League kicks off on Saturday at Fulham. How much are you looking forward to it?

 

In reality I look from game to game. Obviously the league and pre-season are different but I will approach this one just like the others - with total commitment. We want a winning mentality in the club - maybe in terms of providing players for the first-team it isn't the main thing - but it helps breed confidence in the players if you win matches. Liverpool is a winning club so it makes sense that the youngsters are of the same mentality.

 

The idea of the youth set-up is to provide players for the reserves and eventually the first-team. How confident are you that some of your players will be ready for Melwood in a year's time?

 

The best thing for me, would be to see most of my under-18 team promoted to the reserve team. Whether that happens or not only time will tell. We are working together with John McMahon and are all pulling in the same direction as Rafa. I remember when the first-team travelled to Singapore, I received a call from the boss. I was surprised because even when he was focused on the first-team and busy in Asia, he was still thinking about the under-18s. It can only be good for the club that the manager is so committed to the future of Liverpool.

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From The Offal.

 

Good interview, sound promising for our youth team. Also, what does this mean for Hugh McAuley?

[longballs]

Wow, this quote here is fucking immense...

 

When you come from another place and you arrive at Liverpool, you can see that football is different here. The atmosphere around the club is unique. I used to go on the underground in Barcelona and I walked past the Sagrada Familia every day. When you have it in your city and you see it all the time, a moment finally arrives where you don't even notice it - even though people come from all over the world to see it. It's the same with Liverpool. If you are from the city the aura of the club is something you probably get used to. For outsiders it is very special. You can watch it on TV but nothing compares to experiencing Liverpool FC in person. There is something about the club that is impossible to find anywhere else.

[coachpotato]

Certainly says all the right things.

Hope he can walk the walk........

[Thants]

Rodolfo is an ace name.

[mattyq]

Good news. I find all of this very encouraging for the long term

[OnizukaEikichi]

I got a good feeling about this.

[Liverpool lad]

Making all the right noises in his interview, I hope he delivers.