Rush for a successor

Ian Rush: Record breaker

BBC Sport Online's Gareth Lewis talks to Ian Rush about his plans to find a new goal scoring talent in Wales.

It's a hard act for anyone to follow.

Let's just look at the record - a word that litters Rush's CV.

Forty four FA Cup goals - a 20th Century record; five goals in FA Cup finals - an all time record; 49 goals in the League Cup - a record shared with Geoff Hurst; the first man to win the League Cup five times; 28 goals from 78 caps for Wales - a record; and a record 346 goals for Liverpool.

Ian Rush is one of the finest strikers Britain has ever produced, yet with all those records, he has started the hunt for the next goalscoring genius to lead Welsh football.

"That's my aim - to find the next Ian Rush or the next Michael Owen.

Rush: Record... just about everything

"It's my ambition for someone in Wales to come through and to make it big.

"Being Welsh I have that little thing about Wales and I have the belief that if I can help Welsh players to a higher level it can only benefit Wales as a country," explains Rush relaxing in his office.

And through his Ian Rush Finishing Schools - aimed at coaching youngsters and giving them some enjoyment on the way - the quest for the next Rushie has begun.

Wales need the help. They are currently ranked 109 in the Fifa rankings - one ahead of Lebanon and one behind Malaysia. Statistics at odds with Rush's impressive haul of achievements.

Scoring instinct

The concept of a football academy began to hatch in the twilight of Rush's time at Anfield in 1996.

"I had the idea before I left Liverpool and noticed by going to Leeds, Newcastle and Wrexham how lucky I'd been at Liverpool.

"Although they were big clubs the youngsters there did need coaching," Rush explained.

Rush completed his coaching badge at Wrexham and realised he could "help the kids go one or two levels higher than normal" with the right coaching.

But he admits that goal scoring instinct can not be coached.

"Goalscorers are born," he says with a grin.

Gerard Houllier: Five year plan for Liverpool

"But we try and teach them more than one option when they're through on the keeper - if they only have one option then the keeper or defender will know that option too."

More than one option then - the secret of record goal scoring revealed.

But what of his old side Liverpool - heading back for the glory days not known since Rush, Dalgleish, Souness, Hansen and Kennedy were in their prime - and winners of the Worthington Cup - a trophy for which Rush re-wrote the records.

"When you listen to Gerard Houllier he's got a five-year plan.

"Slowly each year they seem to be getting better," Rush beamed.

What price Rush's own plans unearthing a new Ian Rush during the same time?