The Academy: Defense

First Name	Sebastian
Surname	Coates
Squad Number	16
Position	Defender
Height	1.96m
Weight	85 kg
D.O.B.	7 Oct 1990
Town of Birth	Montevideo
Country of Birth	Uruguay
Total Appearances	12
Total Goals	1

Sebastian Coates is one of the most promising centre-backs in world football.

The Uruguay international was brought to Anfield from Nacional in August 2011 having been voted the best young player at the 2011 Copa America.

Standing at a towering 6ft 6in, he is renowned for his commanding aerial displays - both defensively and offensively.

Coates is also capable of executing spectacular goals like his scissor-kick at Loftus Road during his debut season in England.

The defender joined the Nacional academy at 11 and went on to break into the first-team seven years later, making his senior debut against Bella Vista in 2009.

Although he played just three months of the 2008-09 campaign for Nacional, his performances for the title-winning team led to the prestigious Uruguayan Championship Revelation of the Season crown.

That summer, Coates made his international bow, playing in the U20 World Cup where Uruguay went unbeaten in a group that also contained England and eventual winners Ghana.

The 2010-11 season proved to be another glittering campaign for the defender as Nacional clinched another title, while on a personal level Coates scooped the Uruguayan Championship Player of the Season and Defender of the Season accolades.

It led to a first senior international cap just a week before the Copa America finals in a friendly against Estonia. Injuries meant Coates was handed his chance to play in the tournament alongside compatriot Luis Suarez as Uruguay surged towards the trophy.

The youngster's composed displays belied his tender years and, as a result, earned the accolade of Young Player of the Tournament.

Coates is nicknamed 'Luganito' by Uruguay fans as he's seen as the natural successor to the current captain of the national team, Diego Lugano. Indeed, Lugano himself has spoken of his belief that our No.16 will go on to skipper his country.

First though he must look to become a first-team regular at Anfield.

Coates made 12 appearances in 2011-12 following a debut as a substitute away to Tottenham in September 18.

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First Name	Martin
Surname	Kelly
Squad Number	34
Position	Central Defender
Height	1.91m
Weight	77 kg
D.O.B.	27 Apr 1990
Town of Birth	Whiston
Country of Birth	England
Nationality	English
Total Appearances	47
Total Goals	1

Martin Kelly is a defender who has a big future for both club and country.

Currently competing with Glen Johnson for a place at right-back, Kelly can also operate in the centre of defence.

Though yet to make a place in the Liverpool side his own, his potential was emphasised when he was called into England's Euro 2012 squad by new boss Roy Hodgson.

Born in the north-west, the Academy graduate missed almost two years of his development due to a back problem before breaking into the reserves during 2007-08.

Kelly played a key part as they won the league before Rafael Benitez gave him a senior debut as a substitute in a Champions League clash with PSV on December 9, 2008.

Three months later the youngster was loaned to Huddersfield Town, where he featured seven times, scored a first professional goal against Walsall and earned high praise from assistant boss Terry McDermott.

After arriving back at Melwood ahead of the 2009-10 season, Kelly was handed his first start for Liverpool in the Champions League group stage encounter with Lyon at Anfield on October 20 before injuries disrupted his season.

He returned to fitness ahead of 2010-11 and found himself the subject of an England U21 call-up. Kelly rewarded gaffer Stuart Pearce with a headed goal on his debut against Uzbekistan.

His Anfield career would also flourish during the 16-month reign of Kenny Dalglish, when he grabbed regular chances to impress and carved a reputation as one of the most promising defenders in the country.

One of the highlights of Kelly's young career came when he nodded another goal at Stamford Bridge to help send Liverpool to the 2011-12 Carling Cup semi-finals. They would, of course, go on to lift the trophy, though our fledgling star would have to settle for a place on the bench as Cardiff were dispatched in a penalty shoot-out at Wembley.

Nor did Kelly feature in the FA Cup final that followed, though he wouldn't have to wait long to show his potential to a national audience following the appointment of Hodgson as Three Lions boss.

Our No.34 was initially called into the England squad for one match only - a friendly in Norway on May 26, 2012 in which he featured as a late substitute for Phil Jones.

However, an injury to Gary Cahill saw him drafted into the 23-man squad for Euro 2012. Though he warmed the bench throughout, it was valuable experience for a player who seems destined to win many international caps.

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First Name	Conor
Surname	Coady
Squad Number	35
Position	Defender
Height	1.85m
Weight	73 kg
D.O.B.	25 Feb 1993
Town of Birth	Liverpool
Country of Birth	England
Nationality	English

Conor Coady is a young midfielder who captained England U17s to their first ever European Championships title in 2010.

There are high hopes for the youngster at Melwood, though he currently turns out for the reserves.

A one-time captain of our U18s, Coady can operate at centre-back as well as in the centre of the park.

Though yet to make a competitive debut for the senior side, he featured as an unused substitute in matches against Sparta Prague and Birmingham City before netting on his first appearance in a pre-season friendly with a Malaysia XI in the summer of 2011.

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First Name	Jon
Surname	Flanagan
Squad Number	38
Position	Right Back
D.O.B.	1 Jan 1993
Town of Birth	Liverpool
Country of Birth	England
Nationality	English
Total Appearances	15
Total Goals	0

Jon Flanagan is one of the most promising talents to emerge from the Academy in recent years.

The Scouse right-back is already appreciated for the heart he shows on the field despite a limited number of appearances.

He came to the attention of most Kopites at the age of 18 when injuries meant he was handed a shock debut by Kenny Dalglish against big-spending Manchester City at Anfield.

The Reds won 3-0, with Flanagan earning the praise of his manager and respected journalists like Tony Barrett, who called it the best debut since Rob Jones.

Flanagan later dedicated his Reds bow to his dad, who was once on Liverpool's books but never made the grade.

In 2011 the youngster was finally recognised by the England youth set-up, earning call-ups to the U19s and U21s. He made his debut for the latter in a 6-0 win over Azerbaijan.

Flanagan signed a new contract at the start of 2011-12 and currently provides competition for senior colleagues Martin Kelly and Glen Johnson.

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First Name	Andre
Surname	Wisdom
Squad Number	47
Position	Defender
Height	1.86m
Weight	78 kg
D.O.B.	9 May 1993
Town of Birth	Leeds
Country of Birth	England

England U21 defender Andre Wisdom is on the fringes of the first-team squad.

The Leeds-born defender is a graduate of our Academy and, though yet to make his first-team debut, his young career has been scattered with memorable moments.

He was a fixture in the England U16 side that won the 2008 Victory Shield - and two years later there would be more silverware with Three Lions on his chest.

Wisdom was a key member of the England team that won the Euro U17 Championships in the summer of 2010, scoring at both ends as his country landed their first ever success at that level with a 2-1 win over Spain.

The youngster would go on to captain England U19s before being handed an U21s debut against Israel in September 2011.

Wisdom has been a strong presence in our own U18 and reserve sides over the last few years and is now a regular trainer with the first team at Melwood.

Though operating most regularly in the centre of defence, he can also apply his skills on the right or in midfield.

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First Name	Ryan
Surname	McLaughlin
D.O.B.	30 Sep 1994
Town of Birth	Belfast, Northern Ireland

Ryan McLaughlin is a Northern Ireland international who signed in at the Academy in the summer of 2011.

Ferocious in the tackle, the full-back is a determined competitor and a stylish attacker.

He has represented his country at U16, U17 and U18 level.

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First Name	Stephen
Surname	Sama
D.O.B.	5 Mar 1993
Town of Birth	Cameroon
Nationality	German

Stephen signed from Borussia Dortmund during the summer of 2009.

He is a strong, athletic central defender who strikes the ball well and has a good range of passing.

The Cameroon-born starlet, who holds a German passport, has also shown he has good leadership qualities.

He made a slow start in his first year at the Academy, but developed into an important member of the squad as the season progressed, and featured for the reserves on occasion the following year.

Staff in Kirkby are confident he will continue to improve now that he has adapted to life in the English game.

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First Name	Danny
Surname	Wilson
Squad Number	22
Position	Defender
D.O.B.	27 Dec 1991
Town of Birth	Livingston
Nationality	Scottish
Total Appearances	9
Total Goals	0

Danny Wilson is a young defender who arrived at Anfield in July 2010.

The Scot was signed from Glasgow Rangers, where he enjoyed a trophy-laden debut season in football.

Having shown much promise at reserve and youth team level, Wilson was thrust into the senior game at the age of just 17 in a CIS Cup quarter-final tie with Dundee in October 2009.

Nonetheless, he turned in a performance that belied his tender years at centre-back - and he retained his place in Walter Smith's team for an encounter against Unirea Urziceni one week later, in which he became the youngest ever player to represent Rangers in the Champions League.

In total, Wilson made 24 starts for Rangers in 2009-10 as Smith's side swept all before them by clinching a domestic treble. His role earned a trio of personal accolades - SFA Young Player of the Year, the Scottish Football Writers' Young Player of the Year and Rangers' Young Player of the Year.

It was no surprise when a move south of the border materialised.

Liverpool fans would catch their first glimpse of the Scot on September 22, 2010 - though it was a debut to forget as the club slipped to a penalties defeat to bottom division Northampton Town in the League Cup.

His confidence undiminished, Wilson earned a senior debut for Scotland against the Faroe Islands on November 16 - and marked his special day with a goal.

Even so, chances were proving difficult to come by at Anfield and Wilson spent the second half of 2011-12 on loan at Blackpool, making 10 appearances.

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First Name	Jack
Surname	Robinson
Squad Number	49
Position	Defender
Height	1.68m
D.O.B.	1 Sep 1993
Country of Birth	England
Total Appearances	5
Total Goals	0

Jack Robinson is a record breaking left-back of whom big things are expected over the next few years.

The Warrington-born defender became our youngest ever player when he was introduced by Rafael Benitez against Hull City in the final game of 2009-10. He was aged just 16 years and 250 days.

His first-team chances have been limited since then but he impressed against England winger Theo Walcott at the Emirates in 2010-11.

Robinson now provides cover for Jose Enrique.


Having represented England at U16, U17 and U18 level, he is now a regular for the U19s.

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First Name	Brad
Surname	Smith
Position	Left Back
D.O.B.	9 Apr 1994
Town of Birth	Penrith, Australia
Country of Birth	Australia
Nationality	English

An Australian-born left-back blessed with lightning pace, Smith's rampaging runs forward proved to be a feature of the U18s' play over the course of the 2010-11 season.

The young defender was spotted whilst playing for the same high school as Jack Robinson and combines solid defending with exciting forays forward, which was perhaps typified by a stunning long range effort in a 6-0 rout of Bolton.

Smith's superb form inevitably led to international recognition and he played a key role in England U17s' run to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Mexico.

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