FOOTBALL LEAGUE veteran Jay Spearing is reportedly closing in on a SHOCK return to Liverpool nine years after his exit. The 33-year-old academy product has spent the last 12 years of his professional career playing in the lower leagues. Spearing played for the likes of Leicester City, Bolton, Blackburn and Blackpool, before joining hometown club […]
FOOTBALL LEAGUE veteran Jay Spearing is reportedly closing in on a SHOCK return to Liverpool nine years after his exit.
The 33-year-old academy product has spent the last 12 years of his professional career playing in the lower leagues.
Spearing played for the likes of Leicester City, Bolton, Blackburn and Blackpool, before joining hometown club Tranmere Rovers.
The midfielder spent two years at the club, helping them record back-to-back top-ten finishes in League Two.
According to the Telegraph, Spearing will now return to Liverpool in a player-coach role in the academy set-up.
He will man an innovative development role initiated by youth director Alex Inglethorpe.
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Being a former academy captain for Liverpool, Spearing will assist in coaching some of the younger age groups.
Liverpool are one of several Premier League clubs taking advantage of recruiting senior professionals approaching the end of their playing career.
The idea is to pick up players who can help nurture the next generation.
Last summer, Manchester United signed former Hull City centre-back Paul McShane, who was 35 at the time.
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McShane has now retired to solely focus on his coaching career.
He told United’s website: “I’m calling it a day playing now.
“I’ve had 20 years playing and I’ve come back into the club as a player-coach in the Under-23s. It’s been a great year and great experience but now it’s time to fully focus on the next stage of my career, which will be in coaching.
“It’s amazing how things work out. It’s a great way to end my career, to come back here and help the future generation with their careers.
“It was perfect, to be honest with you, when this role came about, and I’m grateful to the people who made it happen. I think it’s a great way to end my playing days.
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“I am (proud). Sometimes when you’re on the journey itself, you can get lost in it.
“It’s a career where there’s lots of ups and downs and there’s so many challenges, but now, I think I can look back and have fond memories of different stages of my career.”
