Rio Ngumoha made a welcome return to playing for Liverpool this week; however, his appearance came in the under-21s. It sparked a bit of debate online, highlighting a wider issue that clubs and players face: career planning. It remains the case that in most academies, career planning is absent, leaving young players and their families vulnerable to clubs that, in many cases, also have not planned a player's career. Let me explain.
Do clubs have plans for their players?
It remains the case that in most academies, career planning is absent, leaving young players and their families vulnerable to clubs that, in many cases, also have not planned a player's career.
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What needs to change?
This is the deep thinking required to produce world-class players.
Don't panic if your child is not in an academy - do this
There is as much chance of the worst player at that under-7s tournament becoming a professional player when they turn 18 as the best player on the day.
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