Apparently, it will not be very long before the Liverpool great, Steven Gerrard, is back at Anfield Stadium as a European Premier League manager for the first time in his coaching career.
Gerrard was hired as the manager of the Aston Villa Football Club on Thursday, November 11th, 2021, ending Steven’s three and a half – year stretch in Scottish football where he was able to transform the culture of the Rangers, and he ended the long – time supremacy of Glasgow rival Celtic.
This job will mark the 41 – year – old Gerrard’s 1st major coaching role in England in which many analysts expect Steven to one day take control of Liverpool, the squad where he played 710 – games, many as the captain of Liverpool, and he is largely considered as one of their all – time great players.
How strange it will be when he returns to the historic Anfield Stadium in charge as the manager of a different football club. In a date that Gerrard will most definitely have circled on his calendar, Aston Villa will play at Liverpool on December 11th, 2021 for the 4th – game coaching his new football club.
Aston Villa landed in 11th – place in the European Premier League last season, but they have backslidden since as they have sold their former captain, Jack Grealish, for an English – record price of 100 million pounds ($139 million) over the offseason.
From having to rely mostly on 1 football player, Aston Villa has attempted to employ a much more sprawling strategy by purchasing a whole lot of new footballers with the money recently pulled in from Grealish’s transfer to his new club. Aston Villa’s new players include Danny Ings as well as Leon Bailey, who both are currently injured but this move has left the squad more wide open.
Aston Villa has allowed the 3rd – most goals this season, and they have lost their previous 5 – matches dropping them to 16 – place out of the 20 – clubs in the league. This is what prompted the ultimate decision to fire their head coach Dean Smith, who was an Aston Villa fan as a child, on last Sunday, November 7th, 2021.
Gerrard ended up leading the Rangers to the elusive Scottish League championship last season in their undefeated campaign which ended the Celtic’s streak of 9 consecutive titles. Steven will eventually manage his 1st match for Aston Villa versus Brighton on Saturday, November 20th, 2021.
Gerrard is well known for propelling and encouraging his club to play in an entertaining, high – octane, and exciting manner. With the Rangers’ results throughout Europe, the football club won their Europa League group last season, also strengthening his overall football coaching reputation.
Currently the Rangers are leading Scotland’s top division this season, and they are 4 – points ahead of Celtic at the moment.
Media Statements
“It has been very clear in our discussions with him that Steven’s coaching ambitions, philosophy and values entirely match those of Aston Villa,” says Aston Villa’s chief executive Christian Purslow. “We are excited he has agreed to lead us in the next phase of our ambitious plans.”
“He … took the brave decision to test himself in the intense and high – pressured environment of the Scottish Old Firm,” Purslow expressed. “His subsequent achievement in winning the Premiership title with Glasgow Rangers really caught our eye as did his experience in Europe.”
Steven Gerrard, who coached in Liverpool’s academy prior to taking charge of the Rangers back in 2018, thanked the Scottish team for, “Giving me the opportunity to manage such an iconic football club. Helping them secure a record – breaking 55th league title will always hold a special place in my heart,” he said. “I would like to wish the players, staff and supporters the very best for the future.”
Sources:
Douglas, Steve. “Liverpool great Gerrard joins Villa for 1st EPL coaching job”. The Associated Press. November 11, 2021.