Surprising Twist: Steven Gerrard’s Potential Managerial Comeback Faces Player Opposition
In a surprising twist, Steven Gerrard, the former Aston Villa manager, is reportedly being considered for a comeback to the dugout after a period away from management.
Gerrard’s tenure at Aston Villa came to an end in October following a 3-0 defeat to Fulham, which left the club languishing in 17th place and facing the threat of relegation. The subsequent appointment of Unai Emery had a transformative effect on Villa, guiding them to a seventh-place finish and securing qualification for the Europa Conference League next season.
Since his dismissal, Gerrard has been linked with various managerial positions, but nothing concrete materialized. In the meantime, he has kept himself occupied by providing punditry for BT Sport.
However, according to Daily Mail, there is strong speculation that Gerrard is now in the running for the Leeds United job. Leeds recently replaced Javi Gracia with Sam Allardyce in an attempt to avoid relegation, but the former England manager was unable to turn their fortunes around. With just one point from his four matches in charge, Allardyce could not prevent Leeds from being relegated to the Championship following a heavy 4-1 defeat to Spurs on the final day of the season.
Leeds United is also expected to undergo a change in ownership, with Italian owner Andrea Radrizzani reportedly selling the club to the group that owns the NFL giants, the San Francisco 49ers. However, the completion of the deal may take up to two weeks, as it remains uncertain whether the new owners will buy out the current ownership completely.
The crucial decision for the prospective new US owners will be whether to retain Allardyce as the manager going forward. Allardyce is reportedly interested in continuing in the role, having come out of retirement to take charge of Leeds.
Notably, the players are said to support Allardyce’s continued leadership, having enjoyed working with him, Karl Robinson, and Robbie Keane, even for a brief period. Allardyce is scheduled for talks with the club’s top brass on Thursday, and the new owners may look to make a statement appointment.
In this context, Steven Gerrard, who achieved tremendous success by winning the Scottish Premier League with Rangers, has emerged as a potential candidate to lead Leeds United next season. His appointment would undoubtedly make a statement and bring a wealth of experience and leadership to the Elland Road outfit.
When asked about offers he had received since leaving Aston Villa, Gerrard mentioned being offered opportunities to manage at club and international level, including an intriguing offer from an overseas league. However, he stated that none of them felt right for him at this time. In the meantime, Gerrard expressed his enjoyment in being an “Uber driver” for his daughters and son.
As the speculation surrounding Gerrard’s potential return intensifies, the football world eagerly awaits further developments and whether Leeds United will indeed make a surprising managerial appointment for the upcoming season.