Route 66 Milestones

Generational second-time title-winning right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is reported to be switching Liverpool for Real Madrid.

Who can blame him?

Leaving the club that nurtured you, brought you stellar success, and unequivocal community adulation, for twenty years from the age of six cannot have been easy.

As so often the case, it is the genuine fresh challenge - rather than significant commercial gains - that seem to drive such a move.

I learn of a demonstration of this from a poster apparently on the wall in his family's executive box of his home stadium.

Here's how London's Times described it;

"Under the heading “Route 66” it shows milestones ranging from his first session at the club’s academy to captaining the Under-16s, his debut, a first goal through to being nominated for the Ballon d’Or. There are 38 landmarks in total and that only takes him through to December 2020. That is part of the issue. By the age of 23 years and 219 days, Alexander-Arnold had done it all with Liverpool. Champions League, Uefa Super Cup, Club World Cup, Premier League, League Cup and FA Cup. The youngest player at an English club ever to complete that set."

38 landmarks, across roughly fifteen years. 2½ a year, ish.

I often feel that with our profession so engulfed by the next deal, we can be in danger of missing out on what we've achieved.

Whilst I am a believer in "the clocks are back to zero" vibe of the freshly began period, it is best married with solid proof that allows us to back up our quest to beautifully smash said new horizon.

I seldom witness, but have done so even at an SKO, when someone stands in front of the assembled salesteam, and reminds them to pause. With detailing what they've done to get where they are now.

Acknowledging this platform can be a real help.

Remove any daunting worrisome itch that we might well fall short. Providing firm foundation for our future push. Showing our substance, forming core from which to launch again.

We have our versions of football's debuts, goals scored, captaining, trophies, representative caps, garlanded nominations.

Even though the example here presaged a departure, rather than fan-willed desire; - "Of course, you can try and do it all over again. Multiple times." - it nonetheless shows the yardsticks of how far you've come.

Once in a while it pays to remember them.