TAKING A GREAT LEAP FORWARD
King chat sold Gerrard on Ibrox and proof of progress can now be realised in Rotterdam
IT was a conversation that changed everything. A two-and-a-half-hour chat ending with a young coach deciding to take one giant leap. And, although no one at Rangers is taking anything for granted just yet, it’s fair to say the deal has worked out pretty well for the club, for Steven Gerrard — and for the persuasive chairman who has just announced he is standing down.
In the wake of Dave King’s statement at this week’s annual general meeting, former Liverpool and England great Gerrard was fulsome in his praise for the man who first sold him on a move to Ibrox.
It would be rather fitting, then, if the ambition that united them from the outset — a hope of seeing Rangers return to the business end of European football — was sealed here in Rotterdam tonight.
They could get it done against Feyenoord. They might have to wait for the final group game at home to Young Boys. Either way, a place in the last 32 of the Europa League is so close, they can almost reach out and touch it.
Gerrard, reflecting on that initial face-to-face with King in early 2018, said: ‘When we first met, I could see his passion for the club — and his determination to get it back to a respectable place.
‘That the fans could be proud of the team again. We shared that same vision.’
Plenty will claim, with the gift of hindsight, they always saw Gerrard as the right man for Rangers.
It’s worth remembering, though, that he was a very inexperienced coach — even in academy terms — when King travelled to his house for a summit that would mark the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Having strode across the fields of elite European competition as a player, Gerrard was uncertain over precisely when — and where — he should make the leap into management.
‘It was obviously a monumental decision for me, in terms of where I was at,’ he said yesterday.
‘With the level of experience I had, I needed a certain guy to give me a certain level of support.
‘I needed to know I had the backing and support to come in and make the changes I needed to make.
‘I needed someone who believed in what I was going to bring. I needed someone who knew I was going to make mistakes — but be someone I could speak to and be honest with.
‘I needed that person. That’s the type of people I had throughout my career at Liverpool.
‘I knew that, whether I was to win the Champions League or have the worst day of my life, those people were there to support me.
‘I was coming into a similar type of club and I needed that type of people. And Dave has always given me fantastic support, as the manager but as a person as well.
‘He came to my house and we had two-and-a-half hours together, chatting about Liverpool and Rangers. He is obviously a fan of Liverpool as well, so it was a really positive chat.
‘I got to know him really well in that first meeting and the relationship has built from there. Whenever he is in Scotland, we always get together to have dinner.
‘I know it’s big news and it’s a decision we all respect, but for me the key is that he’s still going to be there.
‘He’s still going to be on the board and be a shareholder who is there for me to bounce things off.’
Asked outright if he’d be Rangers manager today without the persuasive skills of King, Gerrard winced as he said: ‘Listen, I don’t think Dave needs that headline.
‘I don’t want to create that headline.
But he was certainly a big influence on my decision. ‘I met Dave on Saturday night, we had dinner together, he told me about his decision. ‘I’ve got massive respect for Dave and the job he’s done. The positive thing is he’s not going anywhere. He’ll still be a shareholder, still be about. It’s important that I have that relationship. ‘He was a big influence on my decision to come here. And the main thing that came out of that meal was that the relationship won’t change. He’ll still be there for me. That’s very important.
‘We always spend some hours together, when he’s over, talking about the team, individual players, the progress.
‘We always have a review. That won’t change. We’ll continue to sit down when he comes over.’
The next review will be made a lot more enjoyable if things go well here tonight.
Should they better Porto’s result away to Young Boys, Rangers will go through to the knockout stages of European football for the first time since season 2010-11. Not a bad send-off for the chairman, that. Because this is the kind of occasion that both Gerrard and King envisioned when they first sat down to talk football, hope, ambition and business.
‘I’m a very ambitious
person,’ said the manager. ‘I love a challenge and was aware of the situation when I came in, with the disappointment of not qualifying.
‘The priority the first time around was to get the team in Europe. We achieved that and did our best within the group.
‘But I felt that we didn’t have the squad really capable of getting out of the group.
‘It would have been mind-blowing if we’d done it last year given what we had available.
‘Now this year, after a window under out belt, we’ve had more time together and have more experience.
‘I did feel if we could qualify then we’d be in a position to challenge, for sure.
‘When the group was made it was tough but I did have a confidence and a belief we could surprise a few people and take it to the wire. And that’s the position we’re in.’
In this context, Rangers beating Feyenoord 1-0 on the opening night of Group G was a hugely important result for Gerrard; it immediately confirmed his belief in the group. Guaranteeing European football beyond Christmas, well, as Gerrard said: ‘That would put us on a different level.’ That might apply to finances as well as football. All of which matters, in the context of the modern game. Asked by way of a parting shot yesterday whether he would take £40million for Morelos, a follow-up to King’s declaration that the star striker wouldn’t be sold for that amount, Gerrard smiled as he said: ‘No. And you can add another ten on as well!’ Still in total agreement with the man who came knocking on his door with an interesting proposition. Still striving towards the goals set out during that life-changing conversation. With a chance to take one more great stride in the right direction here tonight.