Danny Murphy admits he struggles to see a scenario where Steven Gerrard returns to Rangers and reckons his former Liverpool team-mate is most likely heading to the English Championship as his next managerial destination.
Gerrard is managing in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Ettifaq but is coming under increasing pressure following a nightmare run in the Middle East. And that, coupled with Philippe Clement’s struggles at Ibrox, has seen Gerrard touted for an emotional Govan comeback.
But Murphy, who played alongside the man who took the Scottish Premiership title to Ibrox in 2021, doesn’t believe it’s realistic. Speaking to Boylesports, who offer the latest Champions League odds, he said: “It would be hard to replicate what Steven Gerrard did at Rangers before because they’re struggling. Their squad is inferior to Celtic and the gap has got much bigger since he left. But he’s a determined man who wants to work hard and if he was to go back there and then win the league again and overcome Celtic again then it would be a huge achievement. It’s hard to see him being back there but never say never.”
Gerrard left Rangers for Aston Villa but failed in the English Premier League and Murphy reckons that could mean a stint in the second tier if he returns to England. He said: “Realistically, you’d have to say with Stevie it’s more likely to be a Championship club than a Premier League club because of his Aston Villa job looking like a failure if you like.
“So yeah, I would like to see him coaching here again, it’d be nice to see him back. It’s about waiting for that chance. I admire the fact, obviously, there’s a financial reward for going to Saudi, but rather than sitting at home wiggling his thumbs waiting for something. He went over there, coached, he’s been keeping his toe in the water if you like. I know it’s a lesser level but still coaching is a learning curve and if you’re not on the pitch, if you’re not coaching then you’re losing a chance to practise what you’re good at so at least if there was an option now for a Championship job for example at least he’s been at it.”
He added: “I like to see any English coach who’s trying to succeed and do well, putting themselves out there and accepting failure as well as successes and bouncing back. You’ve got Wayne Rooney at Plymouth now trying to rebuild and fighting his way through that, which is admirable because he doesn’t need to do it from a financial point of view, it’s just pure ambition. We’ll probably see Stevie do the same. I’d like to see Frank Lampard do it as well. Great lads, really keen to improve their CV.”