MIDDLESBROUGH legend Stewart Downing has joined the scouting and recruitment team at Liverpool.
Downing, who appeared 91 times for Liverpool throughout his playing career, has joined the Premier League champions as a worldwide talent scout.
Following his retirement in 2021, Downing, 40, began his coaching career by returning to Boro on a part-time basis before being offered a position at Leeds United. Downing, who played 35 times for England during his brilliant playing career, has also appeared on television as a pundit in recent seasons.
However, it is understood that the opportunity to enter scouting, which came out of nowhere, immediately appealed to Downing, who has spent recent months extensively preparing for his new role and has now begun working with the Premier League champions, with whom he has maintained a strong relationship since playing for the club.
Liverpool asserts that its international talent scouts “use experience and knowledge to accurately showcase high potential players to global talent staff” as well as “extend our reach to support the quick identification of high profile players from around the world” .
Downing joined Liverpool in 2011 and won the League Cup before losing to Chelsea in the FA Cup final.
“I had a great time there,” Downing previously stated, reflecting on his time at Liverpool, which he joined from Aston Villa.
“It was something I’d always wanted to do: play for a club like Liverpool. I took advantage of the opportunity when it presented itself.
“I was having a good time at Villa and it was a good club, but I think Liverpool is Liverpool and I wanted to make that move.”
Downing returned to Boro in 2015 and won promotion with his hometown club. Throughout his two stints with the club, he appeared in over 400 games.
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