InterviewU18s head coach Simon Wiles: 'I'm really impressed by the talent at the Academy'

Wiles, who has succeeded Marc Bridge-Wilkinson in the role, takes charge of the team for the first time in a competitive game on Saturday, when the young Reds travel to Stoke City in their league opener for 2025-26.

The 40-year-old arrived at the club with extensive coaching experience in youth and senior football, working at Blackpool and Fleetwood Town before a stint at Salford City, where he also briefly served as interim head coach.

Fresh from a spell within Manchester United's academy, Wiles is relishing this opportunity on Merseyside – read on for his first interview with Liverpoolfc.com…

On the honour of joining Liverpool…

I'm very proud and very privileged, first and foremost. I've had some really good conversations with people at the club in terms of what they are looking for in terms of the U18s and the youth team moving forwards. I am truly honoured to be the head coach of the U18s.

On meeting Academy director Alex Inglethorpe before arriving at the club…

Alex is very, very impressive. He is a very impressive man and a very impressive Academy director. From my learning, it's going to be an amazing journey to learn off what he has done for this club so far, what he's experienced and achieved in the game. So to have somebody like that to work alongside is something I'm very fortunate for, and I'm looking forward to learning off his expertise and continuing my progression with the football club.

On previously working in senior football with Salford City and his coaching background…

I've had a good few years now coaching. I started when I was 26 and I've done a variety of roles within the academy set-up. I progressed through to U18s football at Fleetwood Town a couple of years ago and that opportunity led me on to some first-team work at Fleetwood, and then moving across to Salford City with Neil Wood in League Two. Again, that just gave me a bit more experience at what it looked like at first-team level. I was still working with younger players within the first-team set-up and helping them further their careers and work on them individually and improve them to help the team win.

I think coming back to the Academy set-up now has really given me a clear understanding of what is required fundamentally as a young professional of what it takes to get there and stay there most importantly. I think it's very important to make sure that when we are developing players and we are trying to push them that it's not just a case of them going up for one or two sessions and then they come back down. Can they stamp their authority and go and showcase consistently how good they can be for the club?

On working closely with U21s head coach Rob Page and coach Jay Spearing…

That's something I'm really looking forward to. Their experience speaks for itself. I'm really looking forward to working with Rob and learning from the experience that he has had in his managerial career. For him to be in the development setting now, obviously these players are one step away from first-team football and how he is going to approach getting these players ready for the first team and first-team football, I'm really looking forward to seeing what that looks like.

And then how that has an effect on the work that I'm going to be doing at U18s level, making sure that these players are ready and are prepared not just from a footballing point of view but psychologically, mentally, knowing exactly what the expectations are at the club within those age groups and what the manager is demanding. I'm really looking forward to connecting, working and linking in terms of what that is going to look like.

I'm so fortunate to have those guys here. Obviously Jay knows this club inside out and he's had a wonderful playing career. Again, the experience he gives these young players in the sessions is invaluable, and for me to be able to lean on those guys and help our players is going to be key. I'm really looking forward to working with them.

On wanting his teams to always try to play the right way…

I pride myself on that. I enjoy when I'm coaching my teams and I want to enjoy it while I am watching them. I want them to be really brave on the ball and in possession of the ball. Ultimately, I'm looking at kind of where the group is now and I just want us to be really difficult to play against. We want to be really exciting on the ball but we want to be really aggressive without it. We want to regain the ball higher up the pitch and the more we can showcase our talents towards their goal the better.

From our side how that looks, we've got to look at the players' capabilities and look at how we can maximise what their strengths are, and hopefully link it all together with the rest of the team. Hopefully we can put in some really positive performances, which ultimately can bring some results for them. Winning breeds confidence but ultimately we've got to look at the performances and make sure we are putting in those performances that can bring success.

On working with the U18s staff and Anthony Ryan, who has moved up the ranks to be assistant coach…

I've got to say, the staff have been absolutely superb. Since I've come into the building, all of the staff have been really welcoming – Tosh [Ryan] especially. Coming in as the assistant and working with the boys two to three weeks prior to me coming in, he has done a fantastic job. I'm really fortunate that I've got someone who has got so much experience at this football club, who has progressed all the way through the Academy ages. To have someone with that much knowledge, for me, is perfect and I've built up a really strong relationship with Tosh so far. I'm really looking forward to starting the season now and making sure we can help support and guide these young players the best way we can.

I've got to say, the other staff in and around the U18s group as well have been fantastic and really welcoming. I've got to know them really well very quickly, which is also so important. I'm hoping we can create an environment that the players can feed off, so they can pick up on that and then showcase their talents on the pitch as well in a safe environment but a competitive one. I can't speak highly enough of the staff.

On working with exciting players in the U18 group…

The group is really impressive. I've been really impressed with the talent that I've seen so far. I'm coming up to the end of my second week at the club now and there is definitely some potential in the group. It's down to us as staff to make sure that we can provide a programme that they can go and showcase their talents. I just want us to be difficult to play against and then we can show what we can do, and I speak about that to the players every single day.

Go and showcase your talent – that's why you are here. We will make sure that we instil how hard you need to work, the intensity that you need and how aggressive we can be to win the ball back. But on the retention of the football, being able to play through the presses and show your talent – that's what they are here for. I'm a big believer in making sure that the players try things, they can risk things. I'm not bothered about mistakes but I'm just bothered about reactions. If we can hone in on that then it gives these players more opportunities to showcase their talents.

On the opening game of 2025-26 at Stoke on Saturday…

I'm really looking forward to it. Regardless of the opponent, it's the first game of the season. We are going to have players ready to go and they are really excited. I'm just really focusing on what we do, and I'm really confident that the players can go out and put into practice what we have been working on. Ultimately, it's going to be down to those on the day. I'm really looking forward to seeing how they perform as it gives us a platform of where we are at. Hopefully they can go and put the performance in we all want.