Former Liverpool, Aston Villa and England defender Stephen Warnock has joined 7 Elite Academy as an official ambassador.

Warnock made 457 appearances during a 16-year professional career in the United Kingdom, with spells at Anfield, Villa Park, Blackburn Rovers, Leeds United and Bolton Wanderers.

He was part of the Reds squad that won the UEFA Super Cup in 2005 and he also travelled to the 2010 World Cup with England.

His role at 7 Elite Academy will see him hold coaching masterclass sessions across the world, including the United States, UK, and Tanzania.

The 38-year-old has already worked with the academy on a number of occasions in Liverpool and Salt Lake City, and is looking forward to getting more heavily involved.

Warnock said: “I am delighted to be an official ambassador for 7 Elite Academy. It is something we have been speaking about for a while, so I am very happy to get it confirmed.

“I am looking forward to working with everyone at 7 Elite Academy. It is an incredible set-up and something that all the girls and boys who are involved can enjoy and learn from.

“If you think of how the academy has progressed, especially after working with players in Liverpool and Utah, understanding the values, it is exciting to be involved.

“I am very honoured to be asked.”

Warnock’s role under England boss Fabio Capello saw him travel to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and he is looking forward to returning to the continent with 7 Elite Academy.

“One of the exciting parts of the role is the opportunity to travel to Tanzania,” he added.

“If you look at global market within football, there are so many untapped areas. There are so many potentially amazing players out there.

“If we can find a few of those gems and help progress them with a good education within football, then that will be hugely beneficial for everyone.

“That’s one of the exciting things for me with 7 Elite Academy. It’s not only the UK, but it’s the United States and Tanzania. It’s very exciting.”

7 Elite Academy runs teams for hundreds of youth football players in the US, UK and East Africa, alongside a successful annual international tournament in Utah and Nevada.

Anthony Godfrey, Global Technical Director at 7 Elite Academy, is delighted to have Warnock on board.

He said: “I have known Stephen Warnock for a number of years, and he is the consummate professional, both on and off the pitch. It’s great to have him as an official ambassador.

“Having originally risen through the ranks at the Liverpool Academy, he will always work to the very highest standards and his record speaks for itself.

“We can all learn something from Stephen, both in terms of how we play the game and how we conduct ourselves with professionalism on the training ground.

“Stephen’s role is another example of how we are working with some of the biggest names in football to give our players and staff unique opportunities to develop and learn.”

Daren Woolstenhume, CEO of 7 Elite Academy, added: “It is great that as we continue to grow across the world, we have players of Stephen Warnock’s caliber wanting to work with us.

“Everyone connected with 7 Elite Academy will benefit from Stephen’s presence, from our players to our coaching staff and even parents.

“His lengthy experience in one of the world’s toughest leagues, as well as his work at the 2010 World Cup with England, can only help us grow as a youth soccer organization.

“I am very excited to have him on board.”