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Liverpool Appoint Former Manchester United Coach Simon Wiles to Lead U18s

Liverpool have confirmed the appointment of Simon Wiles as their new Under-18s head coach, bringing an end to the vacancy left by Marc Bridge-Wilkinson. It is another clear sign of the club’s reshaping under Arne Slot, with Academy director Alex Inglethorpe continuing to refine the development pathway at Kirkby.

Simon Wiles Moves Across Rival Lines

Wiles joins Liverpool having spent less than a year at Manchester United, where he was part of a wider academy restructuring led by INEOS. Brought in alongside Tom Curtis to focus on player development across the U13s to U16s, Wiles operated primarily with United’s U14s squad while overseeing progress across other key age groups. His time at United was brief, but his arrival was heralded internally as part of an effort to bring “best-in-class youth developers” to Carrington.

Despite the limited time in Manchester, the opportunity at Liverpool clearly offers more responsibility. As head coach of the U18s, Wiles now takes on a position seen as pivotal to Liverpool’s long-term strategy. The role carries extra significance, with recent graduates like Jarell Quansah, Conor Bradley and Tyler Morton having come through the same pathway and gone on to feature in senior squads.

Experience Across the North-West

Before his stint at United, Wiles accumulated a varied coaching background that includes spells at Fleetwood Town, Blackpool and Salford City. He held roles ranging from youth development to first-team support, gaining valuable insight into both academy structures and senior football environments.

Alex Inglethorpe was quick to underline the breadth of Wiles’ experience, telling 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 added:

“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.”

Working in Tandem with Rob Page

Wiles will work closely with new U21s boss Rob Page, who himself joined earlier this summer after Barry Lewtas stepped down following 12 years at the club. Anthony Ryan remains assistant coach for the U18s after moving from the U15s.

Bridge-Wilkinson’s decade-long contribution included leading the side to an FA Youth Cup final in 2021 and mentoring talents now knocking on the door of Liverpool’s first team. Wiles inherits both the expectations and opportunities that come with such a post, at a time when the club is once again reshaping its identity, from senior leadership to academy infrastructure.

Inglethorpe concluded:

“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.”

As Liverpool build on the success of Arne Slot’s first season in charge, and in the wake of major structural changes, Wiles’ appointment signals an ongoing commitment to continuity and progression in youth development, even if it involves taking talent from across enemy lines.