Liverpool appoint former Wales manager Rob Page as under-21s head coach

New York Times

25-06-2025

Liverpool have appointed former Wales manager Rob Page as the new head coach of their under-21s.
The 50-year-old takes over from Barry Lewtas, who left the club earlier this month after 12 years of service.
It's Page's first role since he was sacked by Wales last June following four years in charge of the national team which saw him lead them to both the Euros and the World Cup.
Advertisement
Liverpool believe his appointment can help enhance the pathway for young players from the club's academy to the first-team set-up.
Current Liverpool youngsters Lewis Koumas and Owen Beck were among those to progress from Wales' youth ranks into the senior squad under the guidance of Page, as well as Liverpool academy graduates such as Harry Wilson and Neco Williams.
After ending his playing career, which included eight years with Watford, in 2011, Page's first senior managerial role came at Port Vale, where he was made caretaker manager in September 2014. He was appointed on a permanent basis the following month and held the position until the end of the 2015-16 season.
Page then joined League One side Northampton Town in May 2016 but only lasted seven months in the role and was sacked in January 2017.
He was hired as Wales under-21s coach later that year and became an assistant coach under Ryan Giggs in 2019. Following Giggs' arrest in November 2020, he was placed in interim charge of the side, guiding the nation to the round of 16 at the following summer's European Championships. Giggs officially stepped down in June 2022 and Page became the permanent manager. He led the team at 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Liverpool FC can confirm the appointment of Rob Page as the new head coach of the club's U21s group.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) June 25, 2025
He replaces Lewtas, who recently stepped down, saying the time was right to pursue 'a new adventure'.
He started off as under-12s coach at Liverpool before working his way up the ranks. He led the under-18s to FA Youth Cup glory in 2019 before taking over the under-21s in the summer of 2020.
'Sometimes you just know the time is right for a new adventure and I really feel the perfect time for me is now,' he told Liverpoolfc.com
'Of course, I'm sad to be moving on but I also have 12 wonderful years to look back on, including the last five with the 21s.
Advertisement
'Seeing young players make that next step to the LFC first team or moving on to success elsewhere is hugely satisfying.'
Lewtas helped develop the likes of Curtis Jones, Conor Bradley, Jarell Quansah, Tyler Morton, James McConnell and Vitezslav Jaros, who all made the leap to the first team from academy level.
()