Dirk Kuyt believes Steven Gerrard could still be a future Liverpool manager – but admits that he is unlikely to be considered for the role anytime soon.
Gerrard has already written himself into Anfield folklore through his legendary playing career and was previously regarded as the most likely candidate to succeed Jurgen Klopp when the German decided to stand side.
However, Gerrard’s stock has waned significantly over the past 18 months: after a successful spell at Rangers in his maiden managerial role, Gerrard lasted less than a year at Aston Villa before he was sacked. He has since taken a job in the Saudi Pro League as the head coach of Al-Ettifaq and is not in contention to replace Klopp, who will leave Liverpool at the end of the season.
Xabi Alonso is the red-hot favourite to become the club’s next manager after excelling in his first senior management role at Bayer Leverkusen. And while Kuyt would welcome his appointment, he’s stressed that Gerrard could one day occupy a similar role.
Speaking to The Echo, Kuyt said of Alonso: “People can say maybe it has come too quick but sometimes good things come very quickly and for me, definitely, he was always a guy during our playing time that was always thinking about the game; thinking tactically; talking always tactically outside of the pitch.
“So you could see from a distance a manager one day and for me, it would be amazing if one of my former team-mates like Xabi or maybe Steven (Gerrard) in the future will become a manager of Liverpool FC. That would be amazing and I think both will do well.
“Obviously you see Stevie is now a little further from the job but he also has experience with Glasgow Rangers and then Aston Villa. He is now maybe in a place where people don’t like him to be but he is still doing the job and getting experience and that is how you become a better manager in my opinion.
Kuyt believes both Gerrard and Xabi Alonso would do a fine job at Anfield
“With Xabi, it is the same. I am really looking forward to who will get the job but if Xabi gets it I wish him all the best and I am really proud of my former team-mate for what he is doing there as a manager.”
While Alonso has emerged as Liverpool’s No.1 target to succeed Klopp, they are not alone in pursuing the Spaniard’s services, with honorary Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness admitting they too are trying to prise the iconic playmaker away from Leverkusen.
He told Ran Sport this week: “Clubs like Liverpool, Real Madrid, Leverkusen and FC Bayern are working on it. He’s proven that he can be a coach for the big time.”
