In a 3-1 win over Dutch side PSV Eindhoven on Dec. 9, 2008, Spearing came on for Liverpool as a substitute, marking his debut with the first team after captaining Liverpool’s reserve squad and moving up through the ranks of the academy. Spearing was rewarded for his hard work and got a second appearance in the Champions League that year in Liverpool’s 4-0 win over Real Madrid in the first knockout round.
Spearing spent last spring on loan with Leicester City in the Championship, playing nine games and scoring one goal.
This year, the 22-year-old Spearing has stepped up from Liverpool’s reserve squad to a first-team player. Playing in the midfield in the Europa League, Spearing has started three games for Liverpool.
The Wallasey, England, native graduated from Liverpool’s youth academy, Melwood, and looked to be breaking into the first squad more often until he went down with an ankle injury in late November during a training session. Spearing is still working his way back from the injury, but had some time to sit down and discuss moving through the Liverpool ranks and playing for Roy Hodgson this season.
Kevin Koczwara: What was your experience moving through the Liverpool Academy, and what is your view of the academy now that you’ve graduated to the first team?
Jay Spearing: Coming through the academy means a lot more to myself and my family and everything like that. Moving through the academy and now playing for the club — and how big this club is — now wanting to play for the first team week in and week out is a main ambition of mine. At the moment, getting games here and there is great, and I am happy for myself. But now, I want to try and get a regular place in the Premier League as well as the Europa League.
KK: What has your experience been like playing in Europe this year?
JS: It’s got me use to the different styles of play that foreign teams play. Obviously, European games that Liverpool play, whether it be Europa League or Champions League, are all massive games. It also gives me a chance to show people what I’m made of. Especially the games at Anfield — it gives me a chance to show the fans what I’m made of.
KK: What have you been doing to break into the squad this year?
JS: With the new boss coming in, Roy Hodgson, it was a clean slate for everyone — especially for me, now that I’m 21 — to try and break in on a regular basis. It was a clean slate for everyone, and I needed to show him what I was capable of, that I wanted to stay at this club and I was willing to fight for a place and be involved throughout the year and break into the side, a side I have always wanted to play for since I was a young lad. My aim this year is to start a new year and get more games.
KK: What have your impressions been of Roy Hodgson since he’s come in to manage Liverpool?
JS: Since he’s come in, he states his claim straight away. He’s come in and showed everyone what he wants and how he wants to play. He’s brought in a few players he wanted to bring in during the summer transfer window, and I think if he can, he will bring in a few more during the January transfer window, but we’ll have to wait and see.
He’s come off very determined, and he wants to take this club to higher places and win trophies. That’s what this club is all about.
KK: What have the differences been from Hodgson to Rafa Benitez?
JS: Both have completely different styles of play. Both managers are completely different on how off-the-field stuff and on-the-field stuff are done. Obviously, they have different types of ways to play, formations they want to play and where they want players to play. From my point of view, he’s given me a lot more games to play, and I’m very appreciative of that. Hopefully, I think I’ve proven to him I’m capable of stepping in whenever he needs me. I have to say thanks to him for giving me the chance as well.
KK: What is the state of the academy right now? How do you look at it?
JS: It’s a lot harder nowadays to come through the academy and step up to the first team and add something a little special, and I think the last player to do that [from any academy] is Wayne Rooney. Obviously, he’s come from a different academy, but for our academy, it’s time for Martin Kelly and myself to try and breakthrough and prove that the academy is still important, and that players can step up and go into the first team.
Obviously, I had a great time at the academy winning two youth cups. The academy is still working, but it is going to take time to get everyone ready. I think every club should have an academy this steady.
