Steve Heighway, a Liverpool great, has retired at the age of 75, with Jamie Carragher hailing him as a “huge influence.”
Heighway, a former winger, has spent 25 years working at the club’s academy over two stints. Liverpool announced that he has made the decision to retire.
Heighway played for Liverpool from 1970 to 1981, scoring 76 goals in 475 games and helping the Reds to a number of league titles and two European Cups.
Heighway’s role as a youth coach turned out to be extremely important, too, as he assisted in developing players like Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen, and Carragher.
From 1989 to 2007, Heighway served as the club’s head of youth development. After initially retiring, he later returned as a full-time consultant in 2015 at Alex Inglethorpe’s invitation.
As a result, he worked closely with Inglethorpe to develop young players who could compete for spots in Jurgen Klopp’s first-team squad.
On Thursday, Carragher, who played 737 times for Liverpool, was quick to express his gratitude to Heighway.
He wrote on Twitter: “What a contribution from Steve Heighway @LFC as a player who won Leagues & European cups.
“Then heading up an academy that produced McManaman, Fowler, Owen, Gerrard……amongst a few others!
“A huge influence on me as a young player and still to this day. Thank you Steve.”
Inglethorpe told Liverpool’s website: “Steve has decided it is the right time to retire from his coaching role at the club.”
Heighway was said to have directed “the development of some of the most iconic players to have played for Liverpool Football Club.”
