Liverpool's Raheem Sterling and Jordon Ibe feeling benefits of Brendan Rodgers' early rejection

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed how being rejected as a 16-year-old has inspired him to give young talents like Raheem Sterling and Jordon Ibe their first-team chance.

Rodgers was left disappointed when he failed to make the step up from the Reading reserve team to the senior side as a youngster.

He would never play a league match for the Royals due to injury and was forced to retire at the age of 20 because of a knee condition.

But Rodgers has revealed how his own experience of missing out on first-team football has helped shape him into the manager he is today.

“I felt as a young player I didn’t get the chance,” he said in an interview with Barclays. “I was a talented youth player in Northern Ireland, I came to Reading when I was 16 and I was captain of the youth team, then I was in the first-team squad.

“The manager at the time asked me to play in a reserve game on the Monday to get some game time and then make my debut on the Wednesday against Fulham.

"When Wednesday came, I was expected to play, but I ended up not playing. That hit me probably harder than it should have done, but I felt that from that moment I was probably never going to get the chance.

Each player is different, you look at their pathway and what is going to be best for them but ultimately I want them to play for the first team, to feel that passion.

“It wasn’t long after that I had to quit when I was 20. But I was able to turn those negative experiences into positives in my life and my work.”

In his short time in top-level management, Rodgers has already developed a growing reputation when it comes to improving young footballers.

Since arriving at Anfield three years ago, the likes of Sterling, Ibe, Jon Flanagan and Jordan Henderson have all seen their careers flourish under the Northern Irishman’s watchful eye.

“There comes a time when you have to let them go (and play), because sometimes you never know until they are in the arena, they just want that opportunity,” explained Rodgers.

“I (realised) that I could help young players and prepare them, and if I told them they were going to play they would play. Then they would be given the opportunity.

“Each player is different, you look at their pathway and what is going to be best for them but ultimately I want them to play for the first team, to feel that passion, to feel the love of the supporters and to be given the opportunity to show they can be a professional.”

Brendan Rodgers was speaking to Barclays as part of their ‘Spirit of the Game’ campaign. Visit www.barclays.com/spiritofthegame to find out more.