Alex Inglethorpe And The Brand New, Big Deal

We are living in a very competitive era for football club academies. And Liverpool’s own youth programs are emerging as some of the best in England. That’s down to the philosophies of the club and manager Jürgen Klopp matching ever so nicely with those of Academy director, Alex Inglethorpe. Today, Liverpool highlight that sparkling connection with the news of Inglethorpe signing a new long-term deal to continue his impressive work INTO THE FUTURE.

Inglethorpe joined the club in 2012 as u21 manager and was promoted to Academy director in 2014. The man himself admits to having arrived at Liverpool during a very fortuitous time when there is such a collective effort to drive youth development and to work sincerely to integrate emerging Academy players into the first team.

“I’ve been very, very fortunate,” Inglethorpe said, “to arrive at a club like Liverpool at a time when not only is the philosophy and vision from the owners very clear—and the support from the owners that I’ve had in particular has been incredible—but also from the first team, from Michael Edwards, from everybody.

“We’re very fortunate to have a manager and his staff who all believe passionately about developing younger players.”

Anyone can see that more and more young, fresh fellows are showing up in Jürgen Klopp’s team sheets. And that when those young, fresh fellows are called into action, we are seeing unity with the team. In other words, the young players know their jobs because the playing style, Klopp’s philosophy, is shared by all and sundry and it goes right through the club now.

This club oneness is not only a boon for Liverpool in the present but it is a signal to future youth prospects that Liverpool is head and shoulders above their rivals and that if you join our Academy you will have every opportunity to be a great player for this club.

“This part of the industry is ultra-competitive at the moment,” said Inglethorpe, “and it’s important we offer something that sets us apart from our rivals. I think we do that by providing an elite environment and culture.”

Alex Inglethorpe’s new contract extension is a signal by the club that they view Inglethorpe as an important part of that elite environment. And we are officially set up for years with a first team and an Academy that will be intertwined and infused with a genuine esprit de corps. Oo la la.