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Former team-mate Kuyt says Rangers manager is perfect fit for Anfield... and wants to be his No.2!
KOP favourite Dirk Kuyt has outlined his dream to sit alongside Steven Gerrard as assistant manager in the Anfield dug-out.
And he is convinced Gerrard’s achievements at Glasgow Rangers have paved the way for the Liverpool legend to take charge of his boyhood club when Jurgen Klopp calls it a day.
Dutch striker Kuyt spent six years alongside Gerrard at Liverpool and the pair struck up a strong friendship which still endures today.
After Liverpool’s 2018 Champions League defeat by Real Madrid in Ukraine, Gerrard made a massive effort to be at Kuyt’s testimonial the following day, flying by private plane from Kiev to Holland.
Gerrard invited Kuyt, 40, to spend time with him at the Rangers training ground – and that experience has only made the Dutchman want a permanent place on his coaching staff when he takes the reins at Anfield.
“I am watching how he is presenting himself as a manager, how he performs with his team,” said Kuyt.
“As a player, he was the absolute leader and he is the same as a manager.
“I feel that his leadership qualities are going to take him very far as a manager. I think it would be great if Steven
Gerrard went on to manage Liverpool. He’s Liverpool through and through and spent his entire playing career at Anfield.
“Hopefully, he will go on to experience similar levels of success as a manager.
“I have always got on very well with him, and we are still in contact from time to time.
“Steven has said some great things about me in the last couple of years, we have a special bond. He does not have to speak about me, but he still does.
“It has made me proud of our bond and it was great to go over to see him work with his team in Scotland.’’
After severing ties with Feyenoord, where he was doing some junior coaching, Kuyt has his own ambitions in coaching and management.
And he is shortly due to complete his coaching badges after taking his UEFA pro-licence exams under the eye of former Holland, Rangers and Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat.
After that, he has his sights set on an eventual return to Anfield – and a reunion with a man he regards as the best he ever played with.
“Stevie was the best one of them all,” he added. “For the simple reason that he was the most complete footballer I’ve worked with.
“He could do it all. Scoring goals, defending and passing the ball over 50 yards.
“He was a superstar in every aspect of the game. And that’s before you even mention his incredible discipline and passion for the game.
“I have a desire to be manager soon and I am looking at options. But there are exceptions for choosing a path as an assistant manager and being alongside Stevie would be one of them.
“If he wanted me to be his assistant, I’d like that a lot. In principle, I see myself going on to work as a head coach, but, like I say, there are always exceptions.
“The most beautiful moment I can see is when Steven gets the job and can call himself officially the manager of Liverpool.
“And he’d do a great job. As he’s done at Rangers, he will have a process, doing things gradually step by step.
“I hope to see him develop as a manager and see him work from close by for many years to come.
“That could be in the role of an opposition manager – but it could also be as a colleague.”
‘‘
As a player, he was the absolute leader and he is the same as a manager. I have a feeling he will go far as a manager ‘‘
Steven has said some great things about me in the last couple of years. We have a special bond