Gary ONeil has told talkSPORT there is loads of talent in Liverpools academy ranks, after the former midfielder bagged a role as the Merseyside clubs new Under-23s assistant coach.
The regular talkSPORT pundit has taken his first steps into coaching with the surprise announcement of his new role with the Premier League champions.
Feel extremely grateful and privileged to have been given such an amazing opportunity at such an early stage of my coaching career. Cannot wait to get going and help our talented squad progress further with their careers! #LFC#LFCU23spic.twitter.com/08irTp0KXi
— Gary O’Neil (@Gazoneil) August 10, 2020
O’Neil hung up his boots last summer after one season with Bolton, where he was named their Player of the Year in 2018/19 before a serious Achilles injury forced him into ‘semi-retirement’.
The midfielder racked up over 500 games in the Premier League and Championship and is best known for his spells at boyhood club Portsmouth, Middlesbrough and West Ham United.
And he is now looking to impart his experience and knowledge on the up-and-coming stars in the Reds youth system as assistant to Barry Lewtas, who was promoted to U23s coach in May after two impressive seasons with the U18s.
Speaking about the appointment, Liverpools academy manager Alex Inglethorpe said: Gary’s knowledge, experience and passion for the game will help not only the players that he works with but also the staff as well.
Gary O’Neil has been without a club since leaving Bolton last summer
And the 37-year-old joined the talkSPORT Breakfast on Tuesday to discuss his new career move, and revealed there is host of exciting talent in the Reds youth ranks.
Asked how the opportunity came about, ONeil said: I was speaking to a few lower league clubs about managerial roles and I know one of the guys at Liverpool, so I sent my CV to him purely to ask him if its any good, because Id never done a CV before!
I never heard back from him because obviously hes very busy, and then about six weeks later I got a call from the academy manager and asked if Id go up for a chat.
So I went up a few times last year, had a look around, they sort of interviewed me a few times and managed to get the Under-23 assistant coach role. Im delighted.
Ive been doing some work with the lads over the last week or so and Ive really enjoyed it, and Im really looking forward to the year ahead.
O’Neil will be teaching the likes of Liverpool youngsters Neco Williams and Curtis Jones as Under-23s coach at Melwood
Im obviously very grateful and feel very privileged that Ive managed to start my coaching career at such a big club its nice to work in a youth team environment and try and offer my experience to the boys and help them progress.
Theyre excellent. Not only are they at one of the biggest clubs in the world but theyre at a perfect age to coach them.
Theyve got loads of quality already but, if you can try and add bits to their game, that may help them get them ready for coming out of 23s football and into the first-team.