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Liverpool's boy-next-door Flanagan following in the footsteps
Liverpool's boy-next-door Flanagan following in the footsteps of Gerrard and Carragher to become Anfield hero
Having been spoiled by Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard for nearly two decades, Liverpool are on the look-out for a new local hero and they don’t get more local than tenacious young defender Jon Flanagan, who grew up next to Anfield.
‘I lived two hundred yards away in Utting Avenue,’ says the 21-year-old. ‘When a goal went in, you could hear the roar of the crowd from the back garden.’
Not surprisingly, there is a bond between Flanagan and The Kop which is excellent news for everyone at Liverpool.
No matter how many foreign imports or fans from the Far East you have, nothing beats a good news story about the kid next door.
Flanagan, whose dad John was also on Liverpool’s books in the 1980s but failed to make it because of a “bad attitude”, made an immediate impact by crashing into Carragher on his debut and leaving him groggy. ‘I apologised, but he didn’t really know too much about it,’ says the nonplussed youngster.
After his initial first-team break as a teenager under Kenny Dalglish, Flanagan spent 19 months on the sidelines and thought he would have to leave his beloved Anfield to get regular football.
But injuries to Glen Johnson and Jose Enrique and a loan spell for Andre Wisdom have given the full-back another chance this season and he goes into today’s game at West Brom having earned a standing ovation for his performance in Tuesday’s 4-0 win against Everton in the Merseyside derby.
‘It is big for the fans to see a local lad coming through and pushing on like we’ve had Stevie and Carra in the past,’ says Flanagan. ‘For the supporters to appreciate me like they did against Everton was a dream come true.
‘It is a big ask these days for a local lad to play regularly for Liverpool but that’s my ambition. I want to cement a place in this team for years to come.
‘I was never the best player at a young age but I always worked to keep progressing. You get young players who shine too early and then fade out, but I kept going until I finally got into the team.
‘Last season, there were a lot of lads getting a chance before me. I was at the back of the queue and had to motivate myself to get myself back. At one stage I thought I’d have to go elsewhere but thankfully I got another chance.’
Besides Flanagan’s natural tenacity, he has also shown a new attacking flair under Rodgers. His accomplished finish inside the penalty area during a 5-0 win against Spurs last month summed up Liverpool’s challenge for the top four, with the player revealing: ‘I go to sleep every night thinking Champions League football.’
If Flanagan needs an incentive to stay focused, he only has to look at what happened to his Dad compared to Carragher and Gerrard.
John Flanagan had the talent but went off the rails after losing his own father and left Liverpool when they signed another teenager, Wayne Harrison from Oldham, in a £250,000 deal that made national headline at the time.
‘My dad cleaned Kenny’s (Dalglish) boots but after his scholarship, he didn’t get a pro contract. He would have been about 17 or 18,’ explains Flanagan.
‘Why didn’t he make it? His attitude. I remember Phil Thompson doing a speech about my dad at the academy saying his attitude was wrong and just telling us where not to go wrong.
‘My dad was good at helping me out; he knows he messed up and doesn’t want me to make the same mistakes.
‘He went off the rails – he’s told me many stories about it. Football-wise, his attitude wasn’t the best. He’s doing OK now, he’s got a building and maintenance company, a family business.’
On the flip side, Carragher from nearby Bootle made the most of his abilities.
‘Jamie’s been a massive help, when I first came through, he was there playing alongside me, helping me through the games,’ acknowledged Flanagan.
‘Even since his retirement he still texts and gives me advice. There’s nothing in particular but he is always there giving advice, where not go to wrong and how I can improve.’
You feel Flanagan is revelling in his new role as an attacking full-back. ‘Brendan wants the two full-backs to push up high and be as offensive as possible, but he always says if you can’t get back don’t go forwards.
Despite the name, Flanagan does not think he qualifies for the Republic of Ireland, his Irish ancestry is more historic than grandparents.
He turned 21 on New Year’s Day when Liverpool played Hull but goes all coy when asked about his birthday celebrations. He admits: ‘I can’t say too much! I was at the game v Hull. It was okay...’
The Liverpool fans will know where Flanagan is coming from. He’s one of their own.
Copyright - The Daily Mail
Having been spoiled by Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard for nearly two decades, Liverpool are on the look-out for a new local hero and they don’t get more local than tenacious young defender Jon Flanagan, who grew up next to Anfield.
‘I lived two hundred yards away in Utting Avenue,’ says the 21-year-old. ‘When a goal went in, you could hear the roar of the crowd from the back garden.’
Not surprisingly, there is a bond between Flanagan and The Kop which is excellent news for everyone at Liverpool.
No matter how many foreign imports or fans from the Far East you have, nothing beats a good news story about the kid next door.
Flanagan, whose dad John was also on Liverpool’s books in the 1980s but failed to make it because of a “bad attitude”, made an immediate impact by crashing into Carragher on his debut and leaving him groggy. ‘I apologised, but he didn’t really know too much about it,’ says the nonplussed youngster.
After his initial first-team break as a teenager under Kenny Dalglish, Flanagan spent 19 months on the sidelines and thought he would have to leave his beloved Anfield to get regular football.
But injuries to Glen Johnson and Jose Enrique and a loan spell for Andre Wisdom have given the full-back another chance this season and he goes into today’s game at West Brom having earned a standing ovation for his performance in Tuesday’s 4-0 win against Everton in the Merseyside derby.
‘It is big for the fans to see a local lad coming through and pushing on like we’ve had Stevie and Carra in the past,’ says Flanagan. ‘For the supporters to appreciate me like they did against Everton was a dream come true.
‘It is a big ask these days for a local lad to play regularly for Liverpool but that’s my ambition. I want to cement a place in this team for years to come.
‘I was never the best player at a young age but I always worked to keep progressing. You get young players who shine too early and then fade out, but I kept going until I finally got into the team.
‘Last season, there were a lot of lads getting a chance before me. I was at the back of the queue and had to motivate myself to get myself back. At one stage I thought I’d have to go elsewhere but thankfully I got another chance.’
Besides Flanagan’s natural tenacity, he has also shown a new attacking flair under Rodgers. His accomplished finish inside the penalty area during a 5-0 win against Spurs last month summed up Liverpool’s challenge for the top four, with the player revealing: ‘I go to sleep every night thinking Champions League football.’
If Flanagan needs an incentive to stay focused, he only has to look at what happened to his Dad compared to Carragher and Gerrard.
John Flanagan had the talent but went off the rails after losing his own father and left Liverpool when they signed another teenager, Wayne Harrison from Oldham, in a £250,000 deal that made national headline at the time.
‘My dad cleaned Kenny’s (Dalglish) boots but after his scholarship, he didn’t get a pro contract. He would have been about 17 or 18,’ explains Flanagan.
‘Why didn’t he make it? His attitude. I remember Phil Thompson doing a speech about my dad at the academy saying his attitude was wrong and just telling us where not to go wrong.
‘My dad was good at helping me out; he knows he messed up and doesn’t want me to make the same mistakes.
‘He went off the rails – he’s told me many stories about it. Football-wise, his attitude wasn’t the best. He’s doing OK now, he’s got a building and maintenance company, a family business.’
On the flip side, Carragher from nearby Bootle made the most of his abilities.
‘Jamie’s been a massive help, when I first came through, he was there playing alongside me, helping me through the games,’ acknowledged Flanagan.
‘Even since his retirement he still texts and gives me advice. There’s nothing in particular but he is always there giving advice, where not go to wrong and how I can improve.’
You feel Flanagan is revelling in his new role as an attacking full-back. ‘Brendan wants the two full-backs to push up high and be as offensive as possible, but he always says if you can’t get back don’t go forwards.
Despite the name, Flanagan does not think he qualifies for the Republic of Ireland, his Irish ancestry is more historic than grandparents.
He turned 21 on New Year’s Day when Liverpool played Hull but goes all coy when asked about his birthday celebrations. He admits: ‘I can’t say too much! I was at the game v Hull. It was okay...’
The Liverpool fans will know where Flanagan is coming from. He’s one of their own.
Copyright - The Daily Mail
