'It's almost like an identity crisis' - Trent Alexander-Arnold opens up on challenges of making it as a pro as Liverpool star launches new initiative to give former academy players a fresh start

On Monday, Alexander-Arnold officially announced the launch of The After Academy, which strives to help former academy players get on the career ladder and learn vital life skills for the future. The England full-back is working with Google and funding a business course specifically designed for youngsters that don't make it into the professional football ranks, with Liverpool, Red Bull, The PFA, Therabody, Adidas, Versus and Hugo Boss also partnering with the new initiative.

The competition to make it as a footballer is as fierce as ever, with 99 percent of those signed to a Premier League academy at the age of nine never going on to enjoy a professional career. Alexander-Arnold has heard a host of heart-breaking stories from kids and families who have struggled with mental health issues due to the cutthroat nature of the sport, and is now determined to help teenagers find work after football. “I’m fortunate because I look back and think every single sacrifice I made was worth it,” said the Liverpool star. “I’m one of very, very, very, very few players with the privilege to say that. But everybody else that I played with, around 15/16 other kids, probably couldn’t. How can that be fair? People here, for example, know that someone trains and plays for Liverpool [when you’re a kid]. It becomes who you are and it defines you. I remember walking down the street with people saying: ‘You’re [at] Liverpool academy, you’re this, that.’ I was fine with it. When you are known as that and you were that, you’re proud of it. But when that gets stripped away from you, you don’t know who you are. Because you’ve given everything and sacrificed everything for it. It’s almost like an identity crisis.”

Alexander-Arnold graduated from Liverpool's academy in 2016, has since established himself as one of the best right-backs in European football. The 25-year-old says the skills players learn during an academy setting can be transferred to jobs across a variety of difference sectors, with strong characters often built in the most testing environments. “There are so many different avenues within football. But brands are also starting to realise that the experiences and the skills that we are taught within academies are very valuable," he added. “If I’m 16 and I’ve been at an academy for 10 years, I’ve learned 10 years of team bonding, communication, team skills, hard work, dedication, sacrifice, discipline, routine, following instruction and working as a team. But I’ve also learned about the setbacks that come with it. All that compared to somebody else my age is very, very valuable to a company.”

Alexander-Arnold is determined to leave a lasting legacy on the pitch as well as off it, with Liverpool fighting on multiple trophy fronts once again under Jurgen Klopp - who is targeting a glorious end to his reign after announcing his decision to step down as manager at the end of the season. The Reds currently sit top of the Premier League and have booked a Carabao Cup final date with Chelsea, while the Europa League and FA Cup are also still up for grabs.