Liverpool legend reckons Steven Gerrard still has to grow into becoming Jurgen Klopp's successor

Liverpool legend Ian Rush believes Steven Gerrard has the makings of becoming the manager at Anfield one day – but reckons the Rangers boss needs a little more experience before he’s ready to take over the reins.
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has previously been touted as future Liverpool boss. Picture: SNSRangers manager Steven Gerrard has previously been touted as future Liverpool boss. Picture: SNS
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has previously been touted as future Liverpool boss. Picture: SNS

Gerrard is on the cusp of winning his first major honour in football management with Rangers just five games away from wrapping up the Scottish Premiership title, their first in ten years.

A terrific three-season stretch in Europe, where Rangers thrice made it to the group stages and twice to the knockout round in the Europa League, has already strengthened the Liverpool hero’s case to return to his old club as head coach in the future.

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The Ibrox boss has often been touted as a potential successor to Jurgen Klopp. The German head coach led the Merseyside club to Champions League and Premier League glory in successive seasons, though they’ve slipped to sixth in the league table this campaign after a run of three successive defeats.

Gerrard’s history with Liverpool as a European Cup-winning captain and 710-game stalwart would make the 40-year-old a popular pick among the club’s supporters to return as manager in future.

But Rush reckons he’s still got a bit of learning to do in football management before he can be trusted to take over the hotseat at a top-six English club.

Rush told HorseRacing.net: “I know Stevie really well and when he was at Liverpool’s academy he did really well there.

“It was a gamble for him to go to Rangers. It wasn’t an easy decision for him to go there in the first place but it turns out that it’s been a good decision for him, because he’s gone there with Gary MacAllister and they’ve done really well together.

“It looks almost certain that they’re going to win the league this season and the fact that he’s going to stop Celtic winning ten titles in a row means that the Rangers fans really love Stevie.

“He’s done an incredible job there, but he’s still learning and the time and the place will come for everything. If you’re a Liverpool supporter, you will be dreaming that one day Steven Gerrard will return to manage the club and that will only come if he’s been successful at the clubs he’s been at.

“At the moment Stevie has done nothing wrong so far in management. Does he need a bit of time before he takes another job? Yes he probably does need a bit of time, but he’s on the right track.

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“As a Liverpool supporter I would love to see Steven Gerrard do well for Rangers and when the time is right for him to come and manage Liverpool then that’s all dependent on the experience Stevie needs as a manager.

“He’s not only done well for Rangers in the league, but Europe too and that's a big thing as well. He’s coming along really nicely and if you’re a Liverpool fan like me, when Jurgen Klopp’s won everything again, then maybe we will see Stevie G.”

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