At Liverpool, they have a ‘car clause’ in place to help ensure their young players can pass the first-team audition.
At Liverpool, there is a known pathway in place for young players to make it to the first team. Academy director Alex Inglethorpe has put in place a ‘car clause’ to help ensure that nothing trips them up on their journey. This clause states that the cars young players drive should not be too big or grand, as it could give the wrong impression to the manager and senior players. Inglethorpe believes that this is an important part of deferred gratification, and that young players should have to earn their success. He also believes that this is an important part of safety, as young players are in charge of two tonnes of metal. It is clear that Inglethorpe’s reasoning is rooted in safety and in the desire to see academy players making a lasting impression for all the right reasons after years of hard work. The ‘car clause’ is just one example of how Liverpool are helping their young players pass the first-team audition.