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Liverpool FC have already announced some sweeping changes in Arne Slot’s backroom staff so far this summer.

John Heitinga left to take the head-coach role at Ajax at the end of May, with compatriot Giovanni van Bronckhorst arriving as his replacement.

Long-serving coach Claudio Taffarel and one-season incumbent Fabian Otte both departed in early July.

In their place, Xavi Valero – Rafa Benítez’s former goalkeeper coach – returned to Merseyside in a First-Team Goalkeeper Coaching role.

After 12 years at the club, Under-21s manager Barry Lewtas left to seek a first-team opportunity elsewhere, with former Wales manager Rob Page stepping up to the U21 role.

And now Liverpool have announced a new U18 head coach in former Manchester United academy coach Simon Wiles.

The U18s position has been vacant following Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s departure after a decade at the club.

Bridge-Wilkinson had overseen the development of players like Jarell Quansah, Conor Bradley, and Tyler Morton, leading the U18s to an FA Youth Cup final in 2021.

Wiles’ stint at Manchester United was notably short-lived, lasting less than a year before Liverpool’s approach.

He was appointed as part of United’s academy restructure under INEOS ownership, joining alongside Tom Curtis as Head of Player Development for the Youth Development Phase (U13s to U16s).

The appointments were described as bringing “best-in-class youth developers” to Old Trafford.

His role at United involved leading the U14s squad while overseeing development across the younger age groups, working within the club’s Category One academy at their Carrington training facility.

According to his LinkedIn profile, he served as “Lead 13’s & 14’s Phase Coach”, indicating his responsibility for multiple age groups within United’s youth structure.

He now gets more responsibility and higher stakes at Liverpool.

LFC Academy director Alex Inglethorpe told Liverpoolfc.com:

“Simon is a highly regarded young coach and I’m delighted he’s agreed to take a key role within the Academy as lead for the U18s group.”

“It is a crucial phase in development for young players towards a professional career and I believe Simon’s experience made him an outstanding candidate for the role.”

“He has worked across the age groups at Fleetwood and Blackpool, with plenty of experience of senior football at Salford as well – most recently working in a Category One academy at Manchester United.”

“That skillset is ideal for us as we look to allow our players to reach their full potential and hopefully transition towards the upper levels of the game.”

“Simon will work closely with our new U21s head coach Rob Page, while Anthony Ryan will continue as his assistant coach following his recent move from the U15s.

“All of us at the Academy are excited about working with Simon and look forward to helping him develop players capable of bridging the gap to elite first-team football.”

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