English Premier League struggling side Aston Villa have appointed former Liverpool player Steven Gerrard as their new manager on a three-and-a-half-year deal, ending his three-year reign at Rangers. The former 41-year-old Liverpool captain has now departed his former Scottish champions Rangers to join the club.
Steven Garrard was able to guide the Scottish side to a first league title in 10 years last season. Gerrard replaces Dean Smith, who was sacked on Sunday after a run of five successive defeats. Villa currently sits in the 16th place position in the Premier League table, two points above the relegation zone.
Speaking on the appointment, 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.”
Steven Gerrard played 710 times for Liverpool, winning nine trophies, and spent a season at MLS side LA Galaxy in 2015 before retiring as a player the following year. It is believed that the Englishman has decided to accept the deal so that he will be close to Liverpool and he has also signed a three and half year contract which means his deal with the club will expire when Jurgen Klopp deals with Liverpool will expire.
Gerrard is England’s fourth-most capped player with 114 international appearances, in which he scored 21 goals.