Steven Gerrard has become the new Aston Villa head coach, bringing to an end a three-year stay at Rangers in the Scottish Premiership.
The former Liverpool midfielder led the Ibrox club to a first league title in ten years last season, and takes over an Aston Villa side that is currently 16th in the Premier League.
Steven Gerrard Appointed Aston Villa Head Coach
New Villa Boss Has Signed a Thee-and-a-half Year Deal
Gerrard replaces Dean Smith as Aston Villa’s new head coach, after the latter was sacked following a run of five successive defeats. Smith, a boyhood Villa fan, guided the club back into the Premier League during his time in charge at Villa Park and stabilised the club’s top-flight status in the two seasons since.
However, the departure of Jack Grealish to Manchester City in the summer was followed by a drop in form this season, resulting in Villa winning only three of their opening eleven league games.
Upon his unveiling as the club’s new head coach, Gerrard said: “Aston Villa is a club with a rich history and tradition in English football and I am immensely proud to become its new head coach.
“In my conversations with Nassef [Sawiris], Wes [Edens] and the rest of the board, it was apparent how ambitious their plans are for the club and I am looking forward to helping them achieve their aims.”
Gerrard’s Managerial Journey So Far
Having won nine trophies – including the Champions League – during a glittering Liverpool career, Gerrard finished his playing days in Major League Soccer with LA Galaxy. The 41-year-old then became an academy coach at Liverpool and managed the U18 team before taking over at Rangers.
Gerrard has been tipped by many to become the first-team manager at Liverpool one day, but the Aston Villa job is his first in the Premier League. The midlands club aspire to finish the current season in the top half of the table, and view Gerrard as the right man to help them progress towards the upper echelons of the top-flight.
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