Steven Gerrard is happy to bide his time as he plots his return to top-level management.
Having achieved historic success in his first permanent post with Rangers, he was given a harsh reality check of life in the dugout by Aston Villa. The Liverpool legend lasted less than a year at Villa Park before he was sacked after 11 games of his first full season in charge.
That was back in October and Gerrard has continued to be linked with vacant posts in the months since. However, for now the ex-England skipper is content waiting for the right position and admits he has turned down a number of exciting opportunities.
“You have to reset, wait and be patient for the fire and fight to return,” he told the League Managers Association Magazine . “I’ve been offered opportunities to manage at club and international level since I left Villa, including an exciting opportunity in an overseas league, but none have been right for me at this time. In the meantime, I’m enjoying being an Uber driver for my girls and my little boy.”
The 42-year-old was touted as a potential candidate for the Poland national team, as well as a stunning link with French champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Last month, it was reported that he had visited Istanbul to have dinner with Ertugrul Dogan, who is running to become president of Trabzonspor. The Turkish club remain without a manager after Abdullah Avci quit, but a job offer has yet to materialise.
Since his departure, Villa have gone from relegation strugglers to European candidates under Unai Emery and find themselves well in the mix for a top-six finish. But Gerrard has no ill-feeling towards his former employers and thinks the lessons he learned in the Midlands will stand him in good stead moving forward.
He added: “They gave me an opportunity in the Premier League and it was a successful experience initially because we achieved the remit of guiding the team away from the bottom of the table to safety.
“I’ve had time to analyse and reflect thoroughly on the challenges of our second season. In football, you have to learn from your mistakes and take strength from your successes.”
Neil Cutler worked as part of Gerrard’s coaching staff and the goalkeeper coach is confident that his old boss will be back in the Premier League before long. “He’s got so much to offer. As a serial winner, he’s been there and done it.
"His desire to achieve, his desire to move forward – coupled with his knowledge and experience – will only benefit a team eventually,” he told talkSPORT in February.
“He’ll get back in it [the Premier League]. I’m not sure where that will be. Because of how much desire he’s got, he’ll just continue to move forward. He’s not the kind of person that’s like: ‘I’m Steven Gerrard, I’m just going to make it.’”
