Stewart Downing has taken a new role at Liverpool. (Image: CameraSport - Rich Linley)
Stewart Downing has taken a new role at Liverpool. (Image: CameraSport - Rich Linley)
Former Blackburn Rovers man, Stewart Downing, has made a surprise return to Liverpool as a Global Talent Scout.
Downing spent two years playing for the Reds after moving from Aston Villa in 2011. The England international didn't recreate those heights at Anfield though, managing only seven goals and nine assists in 91 appearances. Despite that, Downing has now returned to the club in a scouting and recruitment role.
The new role is Downing’s latest since his retirement in 2021. As well as doing regular TV and radio punditry work, the Teessider also served as Leeds United Under-21’s assistant manager over the last year. However he has now made the switch to be part of Liverpool’s global talent identification.
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Liverpool say global talent scouts "use experience and knowledge to accurately showcase high potential players to global talent staff" and "extend our reach to support the quick identification of high profile players from around the world".
Downing retired in 2021 after finishing a two-year spell at Blackburn Rovers. He made more than 50 appearances at Ewood Park before calling time on his playing career.