Conor Bradley: ‘He actually taught me things as a coach’ – the discovery and rise of Liverpool starlet

Bradley impressed at right-back as a substitute in Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifier draw against Switzerland at Windsor Park in September, and did likewise on his first outing for Liverpool in a League Cup win over Norwich City soon after, despite giving away a penalty.

As a teenager, his talent was such that youth international recognition naturally came along, and he was included in the Irish FA’s Club NI programme, aimed at helping prepare elite young footballers for a career in the professional game.

Former Derry City manager Declan Devine was one of the lead coaches in the initiative. He was impressed and flabbergasted in equal measure at what the teenager demanded from himself and those coaching him.

“Conor turned heads immediately with all of the coaches. Right away I was thinking ‘who is this kid? Very lightly made up but really aggressive in his appetite to train, get better and make his presence felt, no matter his size,” Devine recalled.

“He always wanted feedback – good or bad – and would challenge you as a coach, which I loved. It was almost as if he was looking at me and thinking ‘right, what have you got for me, today?’

“If you said something to him, it stuck. You didn’t have to repeat instructions to him. In fact, if you changed your concept or ideas, he would be the first to say ‘you told me six weeks ago this is what you want me to do’. He actually taught me things as a coach.”

Despite having taken over at Derry City just a week before the final match, Devine was still at the helm – along with Gerard Boyle, another coach integral to Bradley’s development – when the Northern Ireland Under-16 side won the Victory Shield in November 2018 for only the second time in the country’s history.

Bradley, playing in the tournament for the second time, was the obvious choice to captain what was a hugely talented squad.

“Very few kids play up a year in the Victory Shield – Steven Davis is one I can think of – but Conor excelled. In that second year he was a very calming influence within the group – the players all really liked him and respected him.

“They were a very talented group but they could all see that Conor was the fittest and quickest – he had all the attributes you needed to be a top player. He was a natural leader without being someone that shouted and roared.”