It’s been another action-packed and enjoyable year at LFC International Academy as we have continued to expand our reach globally and give more young Liverpool fans the opportunity to enjoy an authentic LFC experience while learning to play the Liverpool Way.

2019 has been a very special year for LFC on the whole. We won our sixth European Cup in Madrid in June and have continued to put together a formidable run of league form as the year has progressed.

At LFC IA, we have had exciting events and programs happening throughout the year. From conventions and site visits to summer camps and UK residential programs, it was an action-packed year that keeps LFC at the forefront of youth soccer development.

Here’s a taste of what we have been up to during the last 12 months.

JANUARY

USC Convention in ChicagoWe started the year by heading out to Chicago for meetings with our LFC IA partner clubs in the US at what is possibly the biggest coach event on the planet, the USC Convention.

FEBRUARY

LFC Legends visit Hong KongFormer Liverpool stars Patrick Berger and Bruce Grobbelaar visited LFC International Academy Hong Kong and enjoy some sessions with young players there.

MARCH

Launch of LFC coach accreditation initiativeIn March, we stepped up the roll-out of our dedicated program of CPD, allowing LFC International Academy coaches around the world to become accredited LFC coaches.

APRIL

LFC IA UK Coach ConventionLFC International Academy coaches from around the world attended a three-day event at Anfield Stadium with a jam-packed schedule of key note speakers and practical sessions. It was a fantastic event and one which we plan to repeat in 2020.

Liverpool clinch FA Youth Cup Liverpool has a proud tradition when it comes to youth football, and April saw the Liverpool U18s win the prestigious FA Youth Cup with a 5-3 penalty shootout victory over Manchester City in the final.

MAY

Anfield CoursesIn May, we were delighted to be able to host our very special Player Experience events at Anfield. These two wonderful evenings give youngsters the opportunity of stepping on to the hallowed turf and enjoy learning to play the Liverpool way with LFC International Academy coaches. It also marks the start of a busy summer programme of domestic soccer schools.

LFC win UEFA Champions LeagueJurgen Klopp leads Liverpool to a sixth European Cup success with victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the final in Madrid. What a night that was!

JUNE

Summer CampsSummer camp season kicks-off as teams of LFC coaches leave Liverpool to deliver programs across USA and Europe. During the summer months, thousands of youngsters will enjoy being part of an authentic LFC experience by virtue of getting involved in our summer camps around the world.

UCL Trophy visits LFC International Academy EuropeTo celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League, LFC International Academy staff take the trophy out to Norway for a surprise visit to kick-off our European round of summer camps. It’s fair to say the presence of the trophy caused quite the stir and created a lot of excitement with fans young and old!

JULY

LFC First Team and LFC Women America TourThe LFC first team and LFC Women’s team head to the USA for training and pre-season matches. LFC International Academies were at the forefront of activities on tour, including some incredible and exclusive opportunities to meet both squads, not to mention some brilliant photo opportunities. Here's some of the players, coaches and staff from LFC IA Michigan with Virgil Van Dijk.

Summer Camps and LFC IA Residential CoursesSummer camps in the USA and Europe continue while the flagship LFC International Academy residential courses kicked-off in the UK. For more information on signing up in 2020, see www.lfccamps.com

UCL Trophy visits Hong KongThe UEFA Champions League Trophy visits LFC International Academy Hong Kong.

LFC International Academy launches in MauritiusReds legend Bruce Grobbelaar is on-hand to help launch a brand new LFC International Academy in Mauritius, another year-round programme which we’re incredibly excited about.

AUGUST

Summer Soccer SchoolsWith camps on-going around the world, including Cyprus and Egypt, August is also dominated with a busy schedule of short-courses at the LFC Academy in Liverpool. These present a wonderful opportunity for young Reds to step inside the gates at the famous Academy and enjoy short Soccer School experiences with experienced LFC coaches.

We’ve already got Soccer Schools on sale for 2020, click here for more information about LFC Soccer Schools in 2020

LFC First Team stars record LFC IA Coaching ClinicIn the latest LFC IA Coaching Clinic Virgil Van Dijk breaks down his passing technique to help inspire young players on our coaching projects around the world. The video is an instant success!

Watch the Virgil Van Dijk video

New Head Coach arrives in KoreaThe summer also saw Iain Bennett take up his position as LFC IA Korea Head Coach, an exciting appointment that has been a great success in 2019 as the programme in Korea goes from strength-to-strength.

SEPTEMBER

Jürgen Klopp named men’s coach of the year at FIFA awardsThe Liverpool first team manager is recognised for the fantastic work he has done in leading the club to a sixth European Cup.

Another coaching clinic goes liveThe latest LFC IA Coaching Clinic also goes live on YouTube in September, with youngster Sepp van den Berg and Ki-Jana Hoever joining LFC IA’s Senior Coaching Manager Andy Nicholas for a chat on life at LFC.

Watch the LFC IA Coaching Clinic with ven den Berg and Hoever

LFC IA Kunming matches get underwayMatches got underway at LFC International Academy Kunming as Head Coach Dan Reece oversaw the first competitive matches since the launch of the programme.

OCTOBER

UCL Trophy visits Cyprus and EgyptContinuing to allow players and families within LFC International Academies around the world to get involved with the club on a unique level, the UEFA Champions League Trophy is taken to LFC IAs in both Cyprus and Egypt.

Seven Liverpool stars named on Ballon d'Or shortlistTrent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson Becker, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Georginio Wijnaldum are been named on the 30-man shortlist for the 2019 Ballon d'Or, testament to an incredible year at LFC.

NOVEMBER

LFC International Academy SoCal launchesAnother new LFC International Academy partnership launches as LFC International Academy arrives in Southern California. For more information on LFC IA SoCal, click here.

LFC IA Coaching Clinic with Van Dijk hits a million viewsThe video, ‘How to pass like Virgil Van Dijk’, surpasses 1,000,000 views across all club social channels barely three months after launching.

Ten Reds on UEFA Fans' Team of the Year shortlistThe nominations and recognition of excellence continues to the Reds, with Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker representing LFC in the 50-man list for the UEFA Fans’ Team of the Year.

LFC IA Session of the Month launchesTo recognise the fantastic work done by our LFC International Academy coaches around the world, in November we launched a new LFC IA Session of the Month Award. The first winner was Christos Constantinou from LFC IA Cyprus.

DECEMBER

LFC International Academy Mauritius programs beginFollowing the launch event earlier in the year, programmes begin in Mauritius.

LFC IA announces exciting Football Excellence Programme with Southern Cross UniversitySouthern Cross University, already home of LFC International Academy New South Wales, is now the venue for the first ever LFC International Academy Football Excellence course for students.

LFC IA Session of the MonthThe second winner of the LFC IA Session of the Month was announced with LFC IA Michigan's Steve Cook the proud winner.

A big month for LFC IA JapanLFC International Academy Japan has ended the year with a flurry of exciting developments and much to look forward to in 2020. Firstly, LFC IA Programme Manager Dan Gavin was in Japan for a site visit and to observe sessions being delivered and to oversee some coach education.

New Head Coach Mark Siddle arrived in later in the month and the year ended with the wonderful news that the Reds had captured the signature of Japanese forward Takumi Minamino who will join on 1st January.

Here’s to a wonderful 2020!

Some of the best photos of 2019

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