STEVIE GERS
Kop idol Gerrard reveals only the ‘special’ Ibrox job could have tempted him away from Anfield
STEVEN GERRARD says only the Rangers job could have prised him away from Liverpool.
The Mersey legend became the new Ibrox boss yesterday at the age of 37 and said: “It was a no-brainer.” Gerrard revealed he turned down up to eight
STEVEN GERRARD was experiencing “the special buzz” again.
It was a raucous, deafening Ibrox welcome from 7,000 chanting fans who only a week ago saw their side lose 5-0 to Celtic.
Gerrard did his trademark Kop goal salute – that double arm, bicep curl – and shouted, “Come on!”
It wasn’t a bad early taste of the madness and intensity of the Old Firm rivalry.
“I thought it was going to be a secret!” he joked.
It was also a vivid demonstration of why Gerrard will leave the comfy life of the BT Sport studios, and a low-key job as Under18 coach at Melwood, for frontline, bitter rivalry.
While his generation of players – Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Jermaine Jenas, forge careers in TV punditry, Gerrard wanted stadium thrills again.
He explained: “Since I stopped playing football, I have missed that pressure of fighting for three points.
“For the majority of my life I’ve competed for wins – that has been the buzz for me. Since my playing days have ended I’ve really missed that.
“I’ve done a lot of learning in the last 12 months at Liverpool Academy, but I always knew one day I wanted to feel that pressure and buzz again of preparing for a match. I loved that about my life when I was a player.
“I don’t mind being under intense pressure. I want people here to be smiling. To have fun. To have something to believe in.”
But why risk his reputation on a big job so early? Why cut your managerial teeth at a club so far behind Celtic? Why not build behind the scenes at Liverpool?
Gerrard had asked himself the same questions and replied: “I have weighed the gamble up and the risk. I
understand other people thinking it is because it is my first job in management. But I have confidence in myself that I can deliver for these supporters.
“The only thing that mattered to me: do I think I can do a good job as the manager of Glasgow Rangers? In my mind, it’s yes. I love a challenge.
“My parents brought me up in life to front up a challenge and give it your best shot. That’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
Gerrard spoke in the wood-panelled Blue Room at Ibrox, next to a grandfather clock. He walked up an oak staircase with a Hall of Fame listing some of Rangers’ English legends of the past: Butcher, Hateley, Wilkins and Gascoigne.
He passed ancient portraits of former managers, and a bust of Bill Struth – 1920-54, 18 league championships, 10 Scottish Cups.
Demanding history everywhere, but in Rangers’ current state one trophy will be a start, and he’ll be his own man.
“This is my time. My decisions,” he said.
He says he has studied and learned from the best bosses during his career – Rafa Benitez included.
Now he is tasked with taking down one of those former bosses, Celtic chief Brendan Rodgers. He said: “I’m not sure how that relationship will change. As I sit here everything is fine.
“I really enjoyed my time as a player under Brendan, I have nothing but respect for the man and the coach.”
Is this the first step towards becoming Liverpool manager in the future?
Diplomatically, he replied: “I am the manager of Rangers right now, I am so proud to be sitting here.
“I don’t know what is going to happen over the next five years, 10 years, 15 years, it is very difficult to predict.
“Liverpool obviously hold a special place for me, and I will be a Liverpool fan for the rest of my life, but right now my priority is Rangers.”
If he can win trophies in Scotland, that’s probably a yes to a Liverpool return. One day.