Rio Ferdinand and Jamie Carragher help the Young Lions

Friday 20 Nov 2015
Jamie Carragher

Jamie Carragher and Rio Ferdinand have answered their country's call to help the England development teams. 

The former Three Lions defenders will pass on advice and share their knowledge and experiences with the latest crop of youth internationals at St. George's Park.

Carragher and Ferdinand are the latest England role-models to spend time with the development teams after ex-skipper Steven Gerrard surprised the Under-19s squad after their convincing 5-1 victory against Japan last week. 

England v Germany

Under-17s International
7.45pm, Friday 20 November
New York Stadium, Rotherham United
Live on BT Sport

A Champions League winner with Liverpool in 2005, Carragher has been with Steve Cooper's Under-17s squad for training at St. George's Park this week ahead of Friday night’s match against Germany in Rotherham. 

The game, which will be live on BT Sport, is expecting an impressive 7,000-strong crowd at the New York Stadium. 

Carragher, who won 38 caps at senior level for England as well as over 30 at youth level, gave an address to the players on Tuesday. He also helped with training and joined in squad sessions during the three-day spell with the team. 

Jamie Carragher speaks with U17s coach Steve Cooper at SGP

Carragher with the U17s coach Steve Cooper

He will accompany head coach Steve Cooper and his staff in the dugout for Friday’s game. 

Meanwhile, Ferdinand will meet the U16s squad next week and take part in a Q&A before the team flies to the Nike Tournament in Florida.

The former Manchester United man, who played 81 times for England - including seven as captain, will answer questions from the squad about his career - in which he scooped six Premier League and one Champions League winners' medals - and what it meant to play for England. 

FA Technical Director, Dan Ashworth, was pleased the well-known stars were happy to relay some of their experiences to the younger players. 

Rio Ferdinand

Ferdinand will link up with the U16s ahead of their trip to Florida

He said: "I am delighted that we've got such fantastic role-models working with our development teams. 

"One of the big parts of the England DNA, when we launched our philosophy, was to be able to tell young players what it meant to play for the Three Lions. 

"Steven, Jamie and Rio's experiences on and off the pitch are vital and I am both happy and grateful to them all, that they want to pass on their advice to our young players."

By FA Staff