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Mcparland Says Goodbye After 13 Years
It was with a heavy heart and huge debt of gratitude to Rafael Benitez that Frank McParland drove through the gates of Melwood for the final time on Friday.
The departing Joint Chief Scout ended his 13-year association with the Reds I colast week to link-up with close-friend Sammy Lee as Director of Football at the Reebok Stadium.
But after clearing his desk and saying his final goodbyes, the popular Scouser sat down with Liverpoolfc.tv to conduct one final interview, in which he admitted the decision to leave his beloved Liverpool and sever his working ties with the inspirational Benitez was one of the hardest he's ever had to make.
"I've supported this club all my life, as have all my family, so as you can imagine it was very very difficult for me," said the Huyton-born 48-year old.
"The reaction of my family was mixed but they understand that this was something I've got to do for myself. I didn't want to look back in ten years time and think, 'If only...' Liverpool is a club on the up and under Rafa it will only get better but for me at the moment, I think it's the right move.
"There was a lot of agonising over the decision. This (Melwood) is such a fabulous place to work, everything about it is brilliant and Friday was a very sad day, that's for sure mate.
"I could have stayed and continued as chief scout of Liverpool until I retire and that would have been great. For most people there couldn't be a better job but I'm ambitious to test myself in a more senior role and the offer to work with Sammy at Bolton was, for me, too good to turn down.
"I can honestly say I wouldn't have left had it not been for him. Bolton is the only club I would have gone to and that is solely because of Sammy. We are good friends but our friendship only goes back to when I started here at Liverpool.
"We think the same, share the same work ethic and generally like the same sort of things. So while I'm obviously sad to be leaving Liverpool, I'm made up at the fact that I'm going to be working with Sammy. He's a great young manager with all the necessary qualifications and experience. He's learned from the best and for him to approach me was a real honour.
"Telling Rafa of my decision to leave was one of the hardest things I've had to do in football. There was just me and him in the room when I told him and at first I think he was quite shocked because he knew how happy I was here.
"He wanted me to stay and we discussed both the plus and negative points. I went away and thought some more then came in the next day and explained I was sticking by my decision.
"Being the man that he his, he fully understood the decision I'd made. He realises it's a step up for me and has told me I can ring him anytime I like for advice or just to chat as a friend. I'm just really pleased to be leaving with such dignity. His support, and that of everyone else at the club, means a lot to me."
There's no doubt that this club will forever remain close to the heart of McParland and the high esteem in which he holds Reds boss Benitez is evidently clear.
"Being an employee of Liverpool Football Club has been an absolutely incredible experience and working with Rafa for the last three years has been particularly unbelievable for me," he added.
"In the last three years my footballing knowledge has improved an incredible amount and I put this largely down to the influence of Rafa. I didn’t get involved on the tactics side. My main job has been to find players at the right price and I've learned so much about how to deal with agents and co-operate with other clubs.
"There was no way I could have done this job before he came. But having worked with him and learned so much from him I now feel I've got the skills needed to go on and do other things in football.
"What I would say though is that anyone who ever has the chance to work with him should take it because they'd learn so much. I've been just a small cog in the wheel but it's been a privilege to have been part of what he's implemented at this club.
"The future here is very rosy and with the backing of the board I've no doubt he'll one day land the Premiership title. He's so happy at Liverpool, he loves the place. And he's the best manager this club could have, that's for sure."
A former BT general manager, McParland's rise through the Anfield ranks was a meteoric one. From part-time coach at the Academy to Joint Chief Scout in 13 years, the progress he made has been impressive.
He helped nurture many of the club's younger players and, of the current first team squad, was instrumental in bringing the likes of Peter Crouch, Daniel Agger and Dirk Kuyt to Anfield. But is there one player whose progress has given him a greater source of pride than all others?
"There's been a lot of signing that have pleased me since becoming Joint Chief Scout but I think the one that stands out is Daniel Agger," he revealed. "Dan's come on really well and has great potential to get better and better. He's a fantastic professional.
"We initially spotted him a while ago and myself and Paco Herrera did a lot of work before completing the deal. That's not to say it was just down to us, however. Far from it. All of our scouts watched him and liked him. That's the way scouting works. It's not just about one opinion. We all have an input then, at the end of the day, it's down to the boss to make the final decision.
"I've been involved with the signing of every player in the last three years, whether they turned out good, average or bad. It's very easy for scouts to say they spotted this player and that player. Whenever there's a discussion about a top player you'll get five or six scouts claiming to have found him but no-one will ever claim to have spotted a bad player!
"Having been at the club so long I've also grown up with, if you like, and got to know well, many of the local lads such as Stevie, Carra and Robbie. I come from the same sort of background and, although I never spotted any of them, it's been great to see them develop into such stars.
"I'm a great advocate of local talent being given a chance and I'd love to see Liverpool field a team with more local lads in it. To have a team crammed full of Scouse, or just English, lads would be fantastic but as the game becomes more globalised this becomes more and more difficult. And the task facing the Academies at all clubs now is a massive one.
"The standards here are very high and for that reason it is more difficult for local lads to make the breakthrough. Liverpool is always on the lookout for the top players and if the top player is Brazilian, as opposed to English, you have to sign the Brazilian. Alternatively, if the top player is from Bootle, you must sign him. It's about knowing what's out there and backing your judgement.
"But I know Rafa is very keen on keeping a good nucleus of English players in the side and to have signed the likes of Stevie and Carra up on long-term contracts is another major positive for the future."
Whatever the future holds for McParland and Liverpool there's one night that will never fade from his memory and, not surprisingly, it's the clear highlight of his time at the club.
"From a supporters point of view, as much as a worker, it would have to be the Champions League Final of 2005," he said. "To have been involved with some of the players who played that night can never be bettered.
"I said to someone recently that I wish I'd have been 65 at the time of that game because I could have then bowed out at the very top. I could have retired happy and forgot all about football because no-one will ever see another game like that."
A highly-respected figure within the club, McParland will be missed by all those who have worked with him at Liverpool as much as he'll miss them but it won’t be long before he's back at Anfield and already he's counting down the days to the reunion.
"Bolton versus Liverpool was the first game I looked for when the fixtures came out and December 1 is a date firmly pencilled in my diary. I had a bet with Sammy that we'd be back at Anfield on the first day but December will do and it's a day I'm already looking forward to.
"It'll be very difficult to take in to be honest. Ever since I was a kid I've gone to the match as a Liverpool supporter but now I'll find myself on the opposite side and my loyalty will obviously be with Bolton so it's going to be strange.
"I'll never stop being a Liverpool fan though and the first result I'll be looking for after a Bolton match will always be the Liverpool one. And that will never change."
It was with a heavy heart and huge debt of gratitude to Rafael Benitez that Frank McParland drove through the gates of Melwood for the final time on Friday.
The departing Joint Chief Scout ended his 13-year association with the Reds I colast week to link-up with close-friend Sammy Lee as Director of Football at the Reebok Stadium.
But after clearing his desk and saying his final goodbyes, the popular Scouser sat down with Liverpoolfc.tv to conduct one final interview, in which he admitted the decision to leave his beloved Liverpool and sever his working ties with the inspirational Benitez was one of the hardest he's ever had to make.
"I've supported this club all my life, as have all my family, so as you can imagine it was very very difficult for me," said the Huyton-born 48-year old.
"The reaction of my family was mixed but they understand that this was something I've got to do for myself. I didn't want to look back in ten years time and think, 'If only...' Liverpool is a club on the up and under Rafa it will only get better but for me at the moment, I think it's the right move.
"There was a lot of agonising over the decision. This (Melwood) is such a fabulous place to work, everything about it is brilliant and Friday was a very sad day, that's for sure mate.
"I could have stayed and continued as chief scout of Liverpool until I retire and that would have been great. For most people there couldn't be a better job but I'm ambitious to test myself in a more senior role and the offer to work with Sammy at Bolton was, for me, too good to turn down.
"I can honestly say I wouldn't have left had it not been for him. Bolton is the only club I would have gone to and that is solely because of Sammy. We are good friends but our friendship only goes back to when I started here at Liverpool.
"We think the same, share the same work ethic and generally like the same sort of things. So while I'm obviously sad to be leaving Liverpool, I'm made up at the fact that I'm going to be working with Sammy. He's a great young manager with all the necessary qualifications and experience. He's learned from the best and for him to approach me was a real honour.
"Telling Rafa of my decision to leave was one of the hardest things I've had to do in football. There was just me and him in the room when I told him and at first I think he was quite shocked because he knew how happy I was here.
"He wanted me to stay and we discussed both the plus and negative points. I went away and thought some more then came in the next day and explained I was sticking by my decision.
"Being the man that he his, he fully understood the decision I'd made. He realises it's a step up for me and has told me I can ring him anytime I like for advice or just to chat as a friend. I'm just really pleased to be leaving with such dignity. His support, and that of everyone else at the club, means a lot to me."
There's no doubt that this club will forever remain close to the heart of McParland and the high esteem in which he holds Reds boss Benitez is evidently clear.
"Being an employee of Liverpool Football Club has been an absolutely incredible experience and working with Rafa for the last three years has been particularly unbelievable for me," he added.
"In the last three years my footballing knowledge has improved an incredible amount and I put this largely down to the influence of Rafa. I didn’t get involved on the tactics side. My main job has been to find players at the right price and I've learned so much about how to deal with agents and co-operate with other clubs.
"There was no way I could have done this job before he came. But having worked with him and learned so much from him I now feel I've got the skills needed to go on and do other things in football.
"What I would say though is that anyone who ever has the chance to work with him should take it because they'd learn so much. I've been just a small cog in the wheel but it's been a privilege to have been part of what he's implemented at this club.
"The future here is very rosy and with the backing of the board I've no doubt he'll one day land the Premiership title. He's so happy at Liverpool, he loves the place. And he's the best manager this club could have, that's for sure."
A former BT general manager, McParland's rise through the Anfield ranks was a meteoric one. From part-time coach at the Academy to Joint Chief Scout in 13 years, the progress he made has been impressive.
He helped nurture many of the club's younger players and, of the current first team squad, was instrumental in bringing the likes of Peter Crouch, Daniel Agger and Dirk Kuyt to Anfield. But is there one player whose progress has given him a greater source of pride than all others?
"There's been a lot of signing that have pleased me since becoming Joint Chief Scout but I think the one that stands out is Daniel Agger," he revealed. "Dan's come on really well and has great potential to get better and better. He's a fantastic professional.
"We initially spotted him a while ago and myself and Paco Herrera did a lot of work before completing the deal. That's not to say it was just down to us, however. Far from it. All of our scouts watched him and liked him. That's the way scouting works. It's not just about one opinion. We all have an input then, at the end of the day, it's down to the boss to make the final decision.
"I've been involved with the signing of every player in the last three years, whether they turned out good, average or bad. It's very easy for scouts to say they spotted this player and that player. Whenever there's a discussion about a top player you'll get five or six scouts claiming to have found him but no-one will ever claim to have spotted a bad player!
"Having been at the club so long I've also grown up with, if you like, and got to know well, many of the local lads such as Stevie, Carra and Robbie. I come from the same sort of background and, although I never spotted any of them, it's been great to see them develop into such stars.
"I'm a great advocate of local talent being given a chance and I'd love to see Liverpool field a team with more local lads in it. To have a team crammed full of Scouse, or just English, lads would be fantastic but as the game becomes more globalised this becomes more and more difficult. And the task facing the Academies at all clubs now is a massive one.
"The standards here are very high and for that reason it is more difficult for local lads to make the breakthrough. Liverpool is always on the lookout for the top players and if the top player is Brazilian, as opposed to English, you have to sign the Brazilian. Alternatively, if the top player is from Bootle, you must sign him. It's about knowing what's out there and backing your judgement.
"But I know Rafa is very keen on keeping a good nucleus of English players in the side and to have signed the likes of Stevie and Carra up on long-term contracts is another major positive for the future."
Whatever the future holds for McParland and Liverpool there's one night that will never fade from his memory and, not surprisingly, it's the clear highlight of his time at the club.
"From a supporters point of view, as much as a worker, it would have to be the Champions League Final of 2005," he said. "To have been involved with some of the players who played that night can never be bettered.
"I said to someone recently that I wish I'd have been 65 at the time of that game because I could have then bowed out at the very top. I could have retired happy and forgot all about football because no-one will ever see another game like that."
A highly-respected figure within the club, McParland will be missed by all those who have worked with him at Liverpool as much as he'll miss them but it won’t be long before he's back at Anfield and already he's counting down the days to the reunion.
"Bolton versus Liverpool was the first game I looked for when the fixtures came out and December 1 is a date firmly pencilled in my diary. I had a bet with Sammy that we'd be back at Anfield on the first day but December will do and it's a day I'm already looking forward to.
"It'll be very difficult to take in to be honest. Ever since I was a kid I've gone to the match as a Liverpool supporter but now I'll find myself on the opposite side and my loyalty will obviously be with Bolton so it's going to be strange.
"I'll never stop being a Liverpool fan though and the first result I'll be looking for after a Bolton match will always be the Liverpool one. And that will never change."
