Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says the one player he would have loved to coach is Steven Gerrard.
Klopp – who was appointed as the Liverpool manager during the 2015-2016 campaign – missed the opportunity to manage Gerrard, who left the club at the end of the previous season.
The German boss believes Gerrard is one of the club’s all-time greats, having helped Liverpool win the Champions League, League Cup, FA Cup and the UEFA Cup.
Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp says the one player he would have loved to coach is Steven Gerrard
Klopp has managed some big names during his time at Liverpool – including the likes of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.
However, when asked to name the one player from history that he would have liked to have coached, Klopp told This Is Anfield: ‘That’s easy, it’s Stevie (Gerrard).
‘When we played in Sydney three or four years ago and after the season we didn’t have a proper team and we invited [Steve] McManaman, [Daniel] Agger, Jamie Carragher and Stevie.
Gerrard won the Champions League, League Cup, FA Cup and the UEFA Cup at Liverpool
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The German manager (right) says that he respects Gerrard (left) as both a player and person
‘To be honest, I knew Liverpool and I saw him playing, of course, but a little bit advanced age group wise but they were all really good.
‘But Stevie, what a player he still was then! I think he was already retired but maybe a youth coach here. Incredible. Stevie and me together in the roles, he as the man on the pitch and me as a coach that would have been nice. So it’s Stevie.
‘Six years ago it would have been a different answer but now I’m here and I know him as a person and as a player so that’s now an easy answer.’
Klopp may not have had to chance to manage Gerrard, but the pair have worked closely together.
Klopp may not have had to chance to manage Gerrard, but the pair have worked together
Gerrard worked alongside Klopp at Liverpool in 2017 and 2018 as a youth team coach before leaving to take over as the manager at Rangers (above)
Gerrard worked alongside Klopp at Liverpool in 2017 and 2018. The former Liverpool captain worked as one of the club’s youth coaches – occupying roles with U18 and U19 teams.
However, he left Anfield in June 2019 to take the reins at Rangers. Since then, he has established himself as a credible manager – restoring glory to the Scottish side.
During his time at Rangers, Gerrard has helped the club win the Scottish Premiership title and go an entire league season unbeaten.