Malcolm Elias

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Malcolm Elias is the Director of Recruitment at Liverpool F.C. Academy. He holds a UEFA A license. He joined Liverpool from Southampton F.C. where he played a similar and helped transform the Saints into a good production line of young talent. Elias was with Southampton for seven years. He previously turned down an offer from Chelsea F.C. revamp the club’s youth set up at the start of the 2004/5 season. [1]

The appointment is Liverpool’s attempt to breathe life into the £10million academy, which has not produced the expected volume of quality players since its opening in 1999. Malcolm Elias revealed that the doubt surrounding Rupert Lowe's future at the Football Club played a huge part in his decision to move on. [2]

[edit] Controversy On Leaving Southampton FC

Malcolm Elias is remembered at Southampton as the man who discovered 17-year-old England striker Theo Walcott. Prior to joining Southampton, he was a youth development officer at Oxford United and Swansea City. Martin Keown, Mark Wright and Garry Parker are just a few of the many players Malcolm has helped into professional football.

On leaving Saints, Elias told the Daily Echo: "The current uncertainty has had something to do with my decision." Elias also accused Michael Wilde of being "uninterested" in the academy.

Elias’ move to Liverpool is not without controversy. The Chief Executive of Southampton F.C., Jim Hone said that one of his first jobs as Saints chief executive will be to discover whether head of recruitment Elias was the subject of an illegal approach by the Anfield giants prior to joining Liverpool in a similar capacity. Jim Hone said, "There would clearly have been a financial incentive to go to a bigger club like Liverpool and, if Mr Elias didn't leave with the permission of Southampton, we have to ask whether he was tapped up." [3]

There were also fears that Elias might tempt Gareth Bale to join him at Liverpool. Bale couldn't sign a professional contract with Southampton until July 16, his 17th birthday, but Elias has given all Saints fans the news they wanted to hear. He said: "Gareth is at the best place he can be right now. I know he's very happy staying with the other academy players at The Lodge and I'm sure Rupert Lowe arranged a pre-contract agreement with Gareth before he left.” [4]