But Celtic legend might not take my calls now

bending their ears, asking about their roles. Trying to take things they do and trying to use them as well. Take the things I like and use them in my favour.

“I’m lucky to get the role at Ra n g e r s a nd s o much responsibility so soon. I started my coaching badges in my early 30s and I’m nearly qualified.

“Now it’s just about getting ex per ience , g rowing and improving. And that’s the reason why I’ve chosen the staff around me as well because I know they’ll be a great support.”

The 38-year-old believes his days at Liverpool came to an end too soon when his new dugout r iva l Brendan Ro d g e r s was in charge at Anfield.

He has stated how being l e f t on the bench for a Champions League game at Real Madrid hastened his departure after 17 years and more than 700 games. He said: “I should have maybe played on for one more year. I regret not doing the extra year just because I miss playing. So much. “I speak to a lot of players who’ve come out of the game or players who are coming to the end. “They couldn’t wait to get over the line to call it a day. “Whether that be their bodies or mentally they just give up on it or they’re really just looking forward to the retirement side of it. “I knew towards the end that I was finding it tough letting go. So that’s just the way I am. I’m still here, so it hasn’t hit me that hard! “But emotionally it was tough. When you love your job and you work so hard to achieve your dream job to play for your boyhood team but you know that’s coming to an end.

“If you’ve had enough then it’s probably not tough. But I felt , cer tainly, that my Liverpool days came to an end probably a year too soon.

“I went to LA Galaxy in America to come out of Liverpool, just to breathe. Because I knew my Liverpool days were coming to an end and I knew emotionally I would’ve found that tough.

“My wife got pregnant while I was out there in the MLS and it just made sense to come back home. My time in America was the perfect time.

“Eighteen months was fine. It was enough. To go out and have a good think, a good debrief of my career, how it went.

“I can look back on it and be proud of the good times and reflect on the brutal times I had as well. I charged up and got ready for this.

“But when I was out there I still had stuff to focus on.

“I was plodding through my coaching badges, trying to get them done and dusted. I tried to use the time the best I could.

“It wasn’t about enjoying the lifestyle or that kind of stuff, although Los Angeles is a magnificent city. “But the game has been a big part of my life. I was at Liverpool from eight years of age and went full-time at 16 when I left school.

“From 16 to 36 it was all that I knew – full-time football, being around top players, top managers. That’s where the education had begun.

“Towards the end of my career I knew I wouldn’t be able to walk away from the game and do something else. Football is all I know.

“There wasn’t a stand- out moment. I just had that feeling.

“When I became captain at 23, I accrued the responsibility of being a leader. And I really like that man-management side of it.

“It wasn’t natural at 23. I became captain a little bit too soon. I took over from Sami Hyypia and there were a older players around the squad, I had to grow into the role.

“So I’m not sitting here thinking that I’m a top manager right now.

“It is something that I will try and grow into, mould into and improve. I don’t want to stand still. I want to keep trying to grow.”