вЂњBut for me I want to have the attitude where I donвЂ™t want to think that IвЂ™ve hit my ceiling. вЂњI think thereвЂ™s probably only a dozen managers ever who can say they canвЂ™t learn anymore, like the Fergusons and Wengers of this world,вЂќ he says. And despite playing under a number of inspirational figures at Liverpool, Gerrard knows that even the best never stop honing their skills and learning their trade.

So there was something poetic that in the opposite dugout for GerrardвЂ™s first Old Firm match was Brendan Rodgers, the last manager he played for at Anfield. But despite the grey cloud that has hung over the club in recent times, the job of a Rangers boss is simple: beat Celtic. When Gerrard was unveiled at Ibrox, the club was still recovering from their time in the lower leagues following years of financial mismanagement. I was developing myself too, so making mistakes away from the cameras was key for me, as was being able to get things wrong.вЂќ He added: вЂњI loved going in to coach these boys and seeing them develop. It was the perfect place to work out the manager he wanted to become. вЂњI had to understand that I wasnвЂ™t Steven Gerrard the player any more, I had to start from the beginning.вЂќ вЂњThe important thing for me going from player to coach was to park the ego of being a player,вЂќ Gerrard explains. Before moving to Glasgow though, he spent time looking after LiverpoolвЂ™s under-18s where he learnt a few lessons very quickly. Widely considered the greatest player to ever pull on the famous red shirt, itвЂ™s almost certain that heвЂ™ll be in charge at Anfield before too long. Gerrard made his debut for Liverpool at 18, taking the armband just five years later. When coming into my 30s I was always looking to improve all parts of my game, and I want to continue that mentality as a manager.вЂќ вЂњItвЂ™s so important to never stand still,вЂќ he says. However, during Future SportвЂ™s exclusive chat with Gerrard at the Rangers Training Centre, itвЂ™s clear why the challenge of unseating a dominant Celtic as ScotlandвЂ™s number one side appeals to him. вЂњBut sometimes youвЂ™ve got to go off plan, sometimes youвЂ™ve got to take a risk or a gamble which IвЂ™m not afraid of.вЂќ вЂњThe job probably came a bit too soon in terms of my plan,вЂќ Gerrard explains.

Many expected Gerrard to take over a side in the Championship, or even sit tight and wait for Jurgen Klopp to finish his project at Liverpool before taking over at Anfield.ДЄs a club whoвЂ™ve spent the last decade in a perpetual state of despair, Glasgow Rangers didnвЂ™t seem to be the most obvious choice of club for someone cutting their teeth in the management game. It would be fair to suggest, however, that a few eyebrows were raised when he landed in Scotland. Then again, not many players are Steven Gerrard.ДЄ lauded leader on and off the pitch during an 18-year playing career at Liverpool, it was only ever a matter of when, not if, he would be offered the chance to lead a big club. Not many players land one of the biggest jobs in British football at the start of their management career. Future Sport travelled to Glasgow to chat to Gerrard about his time in Scotland so far, the transition from player to coach and what makes a leaderвЂ¦ Tasked with knocking fierce rivals Celtic off their perch, Gerrard knows heвЂ™s got a huge job on his hands, but one that could earn hero status in the blue half of the city. Widely regarded as one of the best players of the Premier League era, Steven Gerrard turned heads when he was unveiled as the boss of Rangers in 2018. This article originally appeared in Future Sport magazine.

Steven gerrard football story