Gerrard’s Rangers gamble maycost him his Liverpool dream
LEGEND BUTCHER INSISTS STEVIE G’S ‘SINK OR SWIM’ SCOTTISH MOVE IS A MASSIVE TEST FOR THE KOP JOB
STEVEN GERRARD is putting his Liverpool legacy on the line by moving to Glasgow.
Rangers legend Terry Butcher insists that Gerrard is risking everything because, if it goes badly at Ibrox, then his dream of one day managing Liverpool will be in tatters.
Butcher is full of praise for the Liverpool legend for making the move to begin his management career north of the border.
But it comes with a warning about how difficult it will be to catch Celtic, let alone try to overtake them in a rivalry where finishing second is nowhere.
Ex-ipswich and England star Butcher said: “It’s sink or swim in many aspects. Going to Rangers as a player is difficult. Going to Rangers as a manager is extremely difficult.
“It’s a very brave decision. I think Chris Sutton said that if he doesn’t do well, he might not get a shot at Liverpool, and that’s what he really wants.
“You have to test yourself and there’s no bigger test than being at Rangers.
“If they were equal, it would still be a massive job. If they brought in Stevie, then it might edge Rangers ahead. But they are not equal. They are a long way apart. If Celtic move further ahead, if they try to buy like they are planning this summer, then it will be even harder because they are already a long way ahead of Rangers.
“It’s a club that demands perfection. It wants to be level with Celtic. I don’t know if he has the funds.”
Butcher, who led the English defection to Scottish football in 1986, believes Gerrard, 37, has made a shrewd appointment by bringing in Gary Mcallister as an assistant, while he also makes comparisons with another Liverpool legend.
Graeme Souness went to Rangers as player-manager and Butcher is convinced Gerrard
can have a similar effect – as long as he avoids getting into trouble.
Butcher said: “I think Gary Mcallister (below) was a really good appointment. He knows Scotland well, knows the Rangers history.
“In Graeme Souness’ first game in charge, he got sent off, they lost and yet he recovered from that and did really well. I hope Stevie does not have that in his first game!
“I can’t see why he would not galvanise the club. He will attract players because it’s him. A bit like Souness did. They have a pulling power and players want to play for these great players. They are quite similar. Graeme was a Scot and Stevie isn’t, not that it will have a big effect, but I wish him well. It’s my club, I love the club very much.”
But Butcher, 59, warned that Gerrard must tread carefully in the goldfish bowl of Glasgow and believes Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers – Gerrard’s manager at Liverpool – will be a good match.
“It will be strange when they are in opposite dug-outs,” he said. “I remember when we went up in 1986, a lot of English press came and were asking, ‘Why have you done this?’ Then I remember the first Old Firm game at Ibrox, we won 1-0, Davie Cooper played in Ian Durrant to score the winner.
“I remember being in the foyer with all the marble and wood panels. All of the press were there and asked me what I thought. I just said, ‘Now you know why I came up here.’
“They understood. It was just a ‘wow’ moment. That wow factor is back in terms of coverage and is the shot in the arm Scottish football needs. I hope it works for Stevie, I really do. But I think Stevie is quite level-headed, quite relaxed about it.
“He must choose where he lives, make sure he lives in the right place. You have to be careful what you do, where you go.
“He will be a target. I remember going to the petrol station and you’re public property.
“These days it would be on Twitter, about what grade of petrol you were using. How much you put in your tank… Scotland is immense.” ■■BOBBY ROBSON: More Than A Manager in select cinemas on Friday (June 1). Now available to pre-order. Digital Download from Friday. BLU-RAY/DVD June 4