John Barnes: Liverpool Ambassador and Academy Tutor
John Barnes returned to Liverpool in November 2019 as an official ambassador, with his new role also seeing him work with young players in the academy. Barnes’ association with Liverpool is long and glittering, and it was met with positivity when the club announced his appointment.
Barnes’ Role as Ambassador
Barnes’ role was expected to be in line with other Liverpool ambassadors, attending club events and interacting with supporters – including on tours. He is not the only former player who is working in the academy, with Rob Jones, Steve McManaman and Michael Thomas also holding roles. But the 59-year-old’s input will be invaluable, as one of Liverpool’s best-ever players and part of the club’s successful era in the late 1980s.
Barnes’ Work in the Academy
In an interview with The Athletic, academy director Alex Inglethorpe revealed that Barnes has also taken to ad-hoc tutoring within the youth ranks. “Part of John Barnes’ role as a club ambassador is to be around the academy,” Inglethorpe explained. “We played PSG recently at under-14s and under-15s [level] and he spoke to the boys after which was great for them. It’s wonderful that these people want to put something back.”
Barnes’ Experience and Background
Barnes has previously worked as a manager, with stints in charge of Celtic, the Jamaica national team and most recently Tranmere, but his last job was in 2009. It is great to see his experience go to use as part of Liverpool’s next generation, and Inglethorpe should be lauded for his role in overhauling the academy setup.
Conclusion
John Barnes is a great example of a former player giving back to the club he loves. His experience and knowledge will be invaluable to the young players in the academy, and it is great to see him back at Liverpool in an official capacity.