Frank McParland
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Frank McParland is presently Joint Chief Scout at Liverpool F.C., alongside Eduardo Macia. With the appointed of Rafael Benitez as manager, Liverpool FC changed their approach in the recruitment of young players. Benitez wanted the club's reserve side to become a breeding ground for hungry youngsters rather than a team packed with unwanted senior players.
Bentiez said, "My assistant Paco Herrera is working alongside our scouting co-ordinator Frank McParland and the Academy's head of recruitment, Barry Whitbread. They will be scouting players for and from The Academy and for the first team”. [1] McParland and Herrera were both instrumental in bringing new talents to Liverpool.
[edit] New Scouting System
The revamped scouting operation was fronted by Frank McParland, from the club's Academy, and Paco Herrera, who were responsible for coordinating the vast number of scouts who are scouring the globe on the Reds' behalf. [2] “We have changed the entire scouting system and replaced some of the old scouts,” said Benitez. 'We now have scouts working tirelessly on our behalf right around the world and we have situated them in what we believe to be the most important countries.
[edit] McParland’s Achievements (and Misses)
With restrictions with from signing the most promising English youngsters under-16 due to Academy rules (under 17s sign a pre contract and can be snapped up by other teams provided that compensation is paid), McParland worked overtime to ensure by the time such players hit 17, a professional Anfield contract is on the table.
McParland played a major role in the recruitment of Jack Hobbs from Lincoln City. Hobbs played only three minutes of first-team football for Lincoln after joining the club from Mayflower Soccer Academy in Boston as a nine-year-old in December 1997 [3] . But Liverpool soon became alerted to his rich promise by Frank McParland, who set up a successful trial for the youngster, who has since signed a professional contract with Liverpool upon reaching the age of 17.
Another player identified by McParland and Herrera was Paul Anderson, who joined from Hull City with John Welsh going to Hull City in a player exchange. Both Hobbs and Anderson featured in Liverpool's Youth side that won the FA Youth Cup in 2005.
McParland also brought in Ramon Calliste who was released by Manchester United. [4] Unfortunately Calliste was unable to impress and was released at the end of the 2005 season.
