Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Klopp: Gerrard is ready to be a top manager.. as long as it’s not at Everton or Man Utd
REDS BOSS WON’T STAND IN STAR’S WAY IF RANGERS COME CALLING
JURGEN KLOPP claims he would want Steven Gerrard as manager if he was a club owner.
Scottish giants Rangers have made an audacious move for Gerrard, who is currently coaching the Liverpool Under-18s.
Liverpool manager Klopp claims Gerrard is destined to be a club boss and says he will support the Reds legend whatever he decides to do.
“I can understand clubs being interested in signing Stevie,” said the Kop gaffer.
“He has massive experience as a player and now he is a manager. I would think about him if I was the owner of the club.
“One day it will happen, either here or somewhere else. It’s his decision and we will support him. If he thinks he’s ready, he’s ready. That’s how it is.
“He’s a quick learner and, if he wants to do something really big, I’d be completely happy for him and support him, as long as he’s not the Everton or United manager!
“I’m not worried because if, and it’s a big if, something happens, he will always be a Liverpool legend.”
Brendan Rodgers was Gerrard’s last Liverpool boss and the Celtic chief says he is shocked by the prospect of going head to head with him in Old Firm games.
Gerrard, 37, turned down the chance to manage MK Dons in November 2016 soon after he retired, claiming the opportunity had come too early.
Rodgers, who wants his former skipper to become a club manager, said: “I saw the speculation and I was a little surprised.
“But the most important thing when you’re starting out is when you feel the time is right and when you feel ready. It’s not necessarily about a club, it’s about the right club. I know he has always wanted to be a manager. I know that from my time working closely with him at Liverpool, it was something that he wanted to do.”
Another of Gerrard’s former bosses, Rafa Benitez, believes taking the Rangers job is the pathway to eventually taking charge at Anfield.
The Newcastle manager said: “I’m sure he would like to coach, to manage Liverpool in the future, but because he has this chance now he has an opportunity to go to another place and learn the problems you face as a manager. I’m sure it will be positive for him.
“I think in his head he will want to be Liverpool manager one day, but it depends how he is doing in his career. My advice to him would be, ‘Before you make big decisions, stay calm and analyse everything’.”
Klopp added: “I would love to have worked with him as a player, but I was a little too late for that.
“When we had our first chat it developed really brilliantly.
“As a Liverpool youth coach you have a good bunch of players. It’s been a really good start for him in coaching and he’s used the time well.”