Much maligned former Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard has emerged as a surprise contender for a job few would have predicted.
Steven Gerrard was Aston Villa manager for 11 months between November 2021 and October 2022.
After a decent start to life at Villa Park things soon turned sour for the former Liverpool captain and he was sacked after winning just two of the opening 12 games of the 2022/23 Premier League season.
Gerrard was replaced by Unai Emery, who has overseen a meteoric rise at Villa; taking the club from potential relegation fodder to the Champions League.
- READ MORE: Unai Emery has made a mockery of Steven Gerrard with transformation of key Aston Villa duo
Gerrard’s managerial career has nosedived, but the 44-year-old could be offered a surprise opportunity to leave Saudi Arabia after spending the past year as manager of Al-Ettifaq.
Steven Gerrard ‘likely’ to be considered as Gareth Southgate replacement for England
The expected departure of Gareth Southgate as England manager was announced on Tuesday morning following a second Euros final defeat in succession.
Villa duo Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins were part of the England squad that fell agonisingly short of glory, losing 2-1 to Spain in the Euro 2024 final on Sunday.
- READ MORE: Ollie Watkins should be fuming at what Gareth Southgate has said after England lose Euro 2024 final
Now, Southgate has taken the decision to resign from his post after eight years in which he has taken England to two major finals and one semi-final but received criticism for his cautious approach in the biggest games.
The FA will want to swiftly appoint Southgate’s successor and The Guardian have reported that Eddie Howe, Graham Potter, Maurico Pochettino and Thomas Tuchel are ‘near the top of the FA’s shortlist’.
However, surprisingly given his recent reduced stock as well as controversial move to Saudi Arabia, failed Villa boss Gerrard could also be in contention.
The Guardian report goes on to say: ‘Other candidates in the FA’s thinking are likely to include Lee Carsley, the England Under-21 manager, and the former England internationals Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard’.
Gerrard undeserving of England opportunity
Villa fans will likely have their heads in their hands at this revelation given Emery’s success has highlighted Gerrard’s shortcomings to an alarming degree.
After managing Rangers to their first SPL title in ten years via an unbeaten season in 2021, Gerrard’s stock was on the rise and he was widely earmarked as a future Liverpool manager.
What has followed has been as far from that as you could imagine, with the former England captain most recently guiding Al-Ettifaq to a sixth-place finish in the Saudi Pro League.
Whilst international managers often do not have the most pedigree – Southgate relegating Middlesbrough in his only senior job prior to takin on the Three Lions evidence of this – it is difficult to argue Gerrard’s managerial career to date gives any indication he is the man to take England to the next level.
Fortunately, it would appear the former Villa manager is relatively low on the FA’s wish-list.
