This article is part of the Guardian’s World Cup 2014 Experts’ Network, a co-operation between 32 of the best media organisations from the countries who have qualified for the finals in Brazil. theguardian.com is running previews from four countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 12 June.
It seems implausible now, given his starring role in Liverpool’s strongest title challenge for 24 years but, only nine months ago, Raheem Sterling was at risk of becoming another of England’s lost talents.
The teenager’s reputation was developing faster off the pitch than on it, and not favourably, and his form had dipped alarmingly meaning that the first four months of the season were spent in frustration on the substitutes’ bench. A heart-to-heart with Brendan Rodgers changed everything.
“He needs to stabilise his life, understand the remarkable opportunity he has at one of the biggest clubs in the world and focus everything on his career,” the Liverpool manager warned. Rodgers rarely criticises players in public. As a former youth academy coach he is particularly adverse to negativity around young players. But his patience was being tested by Sterling. The winger had been cleared of assaulting a former girlfriend the day before Rodgers delivered his warning. He also faced a charge of common assault charge earlier in 2013. That charge was dropped, but two court cases inside 12 months prompted the Liverpool manager to issue some harsh advice. Sterling listened, as he thankfully has done with guiding figures throughout his life, and his career, club and country have benefited.
The 19-year-old responded by moving away from the spotlight of Liverpool to the coastal town of Southport, a path taken by many Merseyside footballers from Kenny Dalglish to Steven Gerrard. In the winger’s experience, it was a short but significant step. His family emigrated from Kingston, Jamaica, when Sterling was six and settled on St Raphael’s estate in Neasden, north-west London, where the talented youngster played in the shadow of Wembley and attracted scouts from Queens Park Rangers.
Sterling was removed from mainstream education due to behavioural problems and spent three years at Vernon House Special School where his teacher, Chris Beschi, once told him; “If you carry on the way you’re going, by the time you’re 17 you’ll either be playing for England or you’ll be in prison.” Beschi described Sterling as “the kid in school who had a kind and innocent passion about him” and, despite some unwanted headlines, many at Liverpool would vouch for that assessment. Indeed, the Anfield club profited from the effort to keep Sterling out of trouble and focused on football.
The England international’s mother, Nadine, has always been the biggest influence on Sterling’s career. Worried that her son could be lured into a gang on St Raphael’s, she resolved to leave London when his success at QPR inevitably attracted interest from the leading Premier League clubs. Chelsea, Arsenal and Fulham were all interested, so too Manchester City, but Liverpool moved quickest under their former academy director, Frank McParland, and sealed the deal. Money helped, naturally, with Liverpool paying an initial £450,000 rising to £2m, but geography played an influential role too.
Sterling’s first appearance in the red shirt came against Everton’s under-18s at Finch Farm, the training ground of Liverpool’s Merseyside rivals. Within minutes he was clattered by a heavy challenge, a typical derby challenge, from the Everton left-back. Liverpool’s contingent, including the club ambassador Kenny Dalglish, looked at each other anxiously. How would this small 15-year-old cope with the demands of Liverpool and ultimately the Premier League? Sterling rose to his feet after the tackle, smiled and clattered his marker back at the next available opportunity. They had their answer.
A few months later, still only 15, Sterling appeared as a late substitute for Liverpool under Roy Hodgson in a pre-season friendly against Borussia Monchengladbach. Dalglish, soon Liverpool’s manager for a second time, handed Sterling three substitute outings in the Premier League at the age of 17 before Rodgers took over and immediately showed his faith in Sterling by starting the youngster against Manchester City in August 2012, his league debut at Anfield as Liverpool manager.
A five-year, incentivised contract followed in December 2012 and while there have been the dips in form that every young player encounters, Rodgers’ confidence in the winger has never faltered. “I’m grateful the manager has so much belief in me,” said Sterling. “For a young player, that’s all you cry out for.”
But it is not just the advice of his mother, his manager or a move to Southport that has enabled Sterling to fulfil his rich potential at Liverpool last season. He deserves the credit. The winger has improved his upper-body strength through an intensive training programme, as Younès Kaboul discovered to his cost when Sterling shoulder-charged the powerful Tottenham defender off the ball during Liverpool’s 4-0 win over Spurs at Anfield in March.
His finishing has improved dramatically, resulting in 10 goals last season, his game intelligence has increased, allowing Rodgers to deploy Sterling in several positions to telling effect, and his influence grew amid the pressure of Liverpool’s ultimately unsuccessful push for a first league title since 1990. As a result, his manager has no reservations about Sterling’s ability to deliver at the World Cup, providing he is deployed properly.
“If he is given the opportunity to play how he can play, whether at the point of a diamond or on the sides, then he could be one of the stars of the World Cup for me,”said Rodgers. “Let’s not forget he is a 19-year-old who has been one of the top players in one of the most competitive leagues in the world. He has already shown that he can play in a league that is not just a British league but a league full of world class, international players. His best games have been against the best teams – Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City – so he is more than capable. If he continues to have that confidence and play with no fear he could be a really stand out player if he is asked to play that way. That is key.”