Liverpool appoint former Man Utd academy coach Simon Wiles as new boss of Under-18s side after Old Trafford exit

Wiles will work alongside Page, the former Wales manager who was appointed head coach of Liverpool's Under-21s in June. Together, they will lead the development of young players within the club’s youth system, ensuring a smooth transition from academy football to professional levels.

Wiles’ football career has seen him accumulate a wealth of experience across multiple roles in the lower leagues, both as a player and a coach. He began his playing career with Blackpool, later having spells at Macclesfield Town, Dunfermline Athletic and Barrow. However, his playing career was cut short due to injury, which led him to transition into coaching.

Wiles’ coaching journey started at the non-league level with Bamber Bridge, where he served as an assistant coach before moving to Fleetwood Town. At Fleetwood, he excelled in multiple roles, including serving as head coach for the Under-18s and as a first-team coach. In January 2021, he was appointed interim manager of Fleetwood’s first team following the departure of Joey Barton. In July 2022, Wiles joined Salford City as a first-team coach and in September 2023 he was again placed in charge as interim manager for a brief period. 

Wiles’ most recent position before joining Liverpool was at Manchester United, where he was appointed as the lead coach for the Under-14s team in September 2022. During his tenure at United, Wiles worked alongside several highly respected academy coaches, including Justin Cochrane, Paul McShane and Neil Wood.

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."

Wiles’ arrival at Liverpool presents a new challenge and opportunity. The academy has gained a reputation for producing world-class talent, with the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones emerging through the ranks in recent years. With Wiles’ appointment, Liverpool fans will be excited to see what the next generation of players will bring to the club.