The Facts:-
Full name: Raheem Shaquille Sterling.
Date of birth: December 8th 1994.
Club: Liverpool.
Position: Midfield.
Height: 1.70m.
Weight: 69kg.
Squad number: 31.
Raheem Sterling is one of the many successful youth products of West Ham United, other West Ham academy graduates include Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Rio Ferdinand and Michael Carrick. So young Sterling has almost certainly had the right footballing education having joined West Ham aged seven.
He stayed with the Hammers until 2003 when Queens Park Rangers signed him aged ten. His reported progress over his first four years with QPR. One newspaper from his birthplace, Jamaica, said he had ‘dazzled the English football world’ with his footballing abilities.
Despite this he failed you make a single senior appearance for the club and eventually, in 2010, moved to Liverpool for £600,000. However the fee could eventually rise to £5million.
It has taken the youngster just two years to break into the Liverpool senior team from the youth team and has already proven to be a fan favourite. His constant workrate and evident technical ability has been compared to that of Arsenal’s Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain. Although he is yet to experience being on the winning side in a Barclays Premier League game it is evident he has a bright future.
The 17-year-old has represented England at both under 16 and under 17 level and is thought to have impressed. Although the Premier League starlet may not actually ever play for the senior England team as he was born in Jamaica and is of that decent.
His mum has said she hoped he plays for Jamaica when the time comes and young man himself did not rule it out, ‘When it comes to that decision, that is when I will decide but if Jamaica calls for me, why not?’
One of Sterling’s most impressive moments of his career so far was his long ranged goal against Rwanda in the 2011 FIFA under 17 World Cup.
My ratings:
Goal threat- 71/100, potential goal threat 82/100
Work rate- 90/100, potential work rate 90/100
Technical ability- 74/100, potential technical ability 86/100
Speed- 86/100. potential speed 93/100
Short passing- 76/100, potential short passing 83/100
Crossing- 72/100, potential crossing 84/100
Composure- 94/100, potential composure 99/100.
Market value- £11m, potential market value £25m-£30m.
The summary:
A remarkable young man who appears to be phased by nothing with a great future. However he may be held back by his club and by the English game’s coaching style. Getting too many games at such an early age may have a negative effect. He could peak too soon, burn out or let his ability get to his head.
Nonetheless the young man has the composure and evident technical ability to go far.
Report written by Thomas Munson
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