LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, October 11, 2025: Liverpool's Jay Spearing celebrates after the LFC Foundation match between Chelsea FC Legends and Liverpool FC Legends at Stamford Bridge. Liverpool won 1-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, October 11, 2025: Liverpool's Jay Spearing celebrates after the LFC Foundation match between Chelsea FC Legends and Liverpool FC Legends at Stamford Bridge. Liverpool won 1-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Jay Spearing will continue as a player and a coach at Liverpool’s academy for a fifth season, extending his time on the pitch at 37 years old.
Spearing played 55 senior games for Liverpool between 2008 and 2012, and later rejoined the club in the role of player-coach in the academy in 2022.
In the role, he will continue to assist U21s head coach Rob Page, but also be available as one of five over-age options in any given game over the course of the campaign.
As a registered player, the veteran midfielder can offer the valuable service of coaching players on the pitch during games, rather than just offering instructions from the sidelines.
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - Sunday, September 21, 2025: Liverpool's Under-21's head coach Robert Page and assistant Jay Spearing (R) during the Premier League 2 match between Liverpool FC Under-21's and Manchester United FC Under-21's at the Liverpool Academy. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - Sunday, September 21, 2025: Liverpool's Under-21's head coach Robert Page and assistant Jay Spearing (R) during the Premier League 2 match between Liverpool FC Under-21's and Manchester United FC Under-21's at the Liverpool Academy. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Spearing was only used twice last season in the EFL Trophy, but against senior opposition is where his match minutes are likely to come again in 2026/27.
The Reds have been drawn against League One’s Huddersfield and Doncaster Rovers, plus League Two’s Rochdale in the group stage of this season’s tournament.
As the academy team, Liverpool will play all their games away from home, adding to the value Spearing can offer the U21s against mature-aged players.
On a post to Instagram in both a Liverpool kit and his coaching attire, Spearing penned: “Season 26/27…Player. Coach. Ready to go again!”
The 37-year-old also played the full match for Liverpool Legends against Chelsea last October at Stamford Bridge, which preceded his second and final outing for the U21s last season.
The Legends won 1-0 thanks to Ryan Babel, while the EFL Trophy match against Crewe ended in a 2-0 defeat.
In an interview on That Peter Crouch Podcast before the Legends match, Spearing said: “I’m trying to keep the boots on until someone literally takes them off me!”
2026-07-25-328-Liverpool_Sunderland (1)
NASHVILLE, USA - Saturday, July 25, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola (L) and first team coach Tommy Elphick during a friendly match between Liverpool FC and Sunderland AFC at the Nashville SC Stadium. Liverpool won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
2 collage diagonal (less angle) (62)
2 collage diagonal (less angle) (62)
ROUNDUP COLLAGE (1)
ROUNDUP COLLAGE (1)