Liverpool Reportedly Sack Academy Duo Frank McParland and Rodolfo Borrell
Liverpool have parted ways with academy duoย Frank McParland andย Rodolfo Borrell, according to reports emerging on Thursday morning.
Per the Daily Mail's Rob Draper and Dominic King, the duo have left the club despite the recent success of the academy in producing players for the first-team squad.
The report states:
"Frank McParland, Liverpoolโs Academy director, has been sacked along with the clubโs Head of Academy coaching.
Academy technical director Rodolfo Borrell is also expected to leave in what will be regarded as a shock move, given the perceived success of the academy.
Seven playersย made their first-team debut for the Anfield club last season having been guided through by McParland.
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Both McParland and Borrell were brought to the club in 2009 under former manager Rafael Benitez, with Liverpool having seen a dearth of talent coming through the system since the days of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher's emergence.
The Reds not only looked to bring through players from their own system, but also spent sizeable sums of money looking at elite youth talents from around Europeโwith Joao Teixeira and Samed Yesil better-known recruits of recent years.
Thus far, it must be said that the renewed focus on youth has been successful. The likes of Andre Wisdom and Martin Kelly have come through the system, while Raheem Sterling and Jordon Ibe are high-profile examples of those who have been recruited in their teenage years.
As a result of the policy, as well as McParland and Borrell's work on improving the players at the club, it can now be said that the Reds have one of the healthier systems in the top tier of English footballโa big change from just a few years ago.
The decision to part with their services, then, will likely cause plenty of discontent among the side's supporters. Liverpoolย are undoubtedly better off for the pair's work over the past four years.ย
However, there is perhaps logic to the decision. Manager Brendan Rodgers inherited the current system upon arrival and can now look to bring in his own team of people.
He can also point to the fact those who have graduated to first-team level are largely yet to establish themselves as key individuals. Sterling is currently a fringe figure after his initial breakthrough, while Wisdom has been loaned out to Derby.
The club's drive to bring through more young players is unlikely to alter, regardless of the decision, and likely signals Rodgers' next step towards building an increasingly bright future for Liverpool.
