Two and a half years after being dismissed by Aston Villa, Steven Gerrard is being linked with a potential return to English football.
The former Liverpool captain has been without a managerial role since leaving Saudi side Al-Ettifaq in January, following an 18-month spell that drew criticism, particularly regarding his training schedules. Now, he may be in contention for a new position back in his home country.
This week, Southampton parted ways with Ivan Juric after their relegation from the Premier League was confirmed. Simon Rusk has stepped in as interim manager once again, with midfielder Adam Lallana assisting him.
Gerrard is reportedly among the early contenders to take over at St Mary’s, according to Birmingham World, which claims he is ‘high up the list’ of candidates. Steve Cooper, who was sacked by Leicester in November, is currently seen as the frontrunner, while Sean Dyche is also in the mix.
The report also mentions other potential names, though with lower odds, including former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, who holds just a 9.1% chance of being appointed.
If Gerrard does return to managing in England, he’ll bring with him the lessons learned from his time abroad. Taking on the Southampton role would be no easy task — the expectation will be immediate promotion and a much stronger showing than in recent seasons.
Nevertheless, Gerrard is no stranger to high-pressure situations, and while his previous managerial stints haven’t gone as planned, the hope remains that he can rebuild his reputation with his next opportunity.
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