Liverpool are in advanced talks to recruit ‘highly-rated’ coach Simon Wiles from their arch rivals Manchester United, according to reports.
Wiles is currently in charge of United U14s at Old Trafford but is now set to become the U18s head coach for Premier League champions Liverpool.
The 40-year-old only joined United in September 2024 after a spell as caretaker boss of Salford City, owned by Gary Neville and David Beckham.
But The Athletic have reported that Wiles is now heading to Anfield to replace Marc Bridge-Wilkinson as the Reds’ new U18s manager.
Simon Wiles’ coaching career to date
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Wiles’ first coaching role came in Blackpool’s academy in June 2013, before he decided to refocus on his playing career, which ended in 2018.
After hanging up his boots, Wiles became an U18s coach for League One club Fleetwood Town and was their interim manager in 2021 when they sacked Joey Barton.
He swapped Fleetwood for Salford in 2022, working as a first-team coach, before being snapped up by United’s academy in September last year.
Why Simon Wiles’ exit is a blow for Man Utd
His expected departure from Old Trafford is a significant blow given the amount of academy coaches to progress and leave for a raised position.
Justin Cochrane, Paul McShane, Tom Huddlestone, Neil Wood, Neil Ryan, and Neil Gittins are just some of the other coaches to have left United.
Wiles is expected to work with Anthony Ryan when he joins Liverpool, who will step up from the U15s to become assistant head coach for the U18s.
Ryan is currently working as Liverpool U18s’ interim boss after Bridge-Wilkinson left following 10 years of service at the end of last season.
Who did Simon Wiles play for before retirement?
Wiles played as a midfielder for the likes of Blackpool, Dunfermline Athletic and Barrow. He also spent time on loan at Macclesfield Town.
After leaving Barrow, he became an U10s coach for former club Blackpool but then joined Chorley before spells at Salford and Bamber Bridge.
Wiles won the FA Trophy with Barrow during the 2009-10 season.
He played 40 games for Blackpool – where he started his career in 2003 – with 27 of those appearances coming when they were in League One.
