Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has been out of work since leaving his role with Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia at the start of the year
Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is being linked with a return to English football to manage Middlesbrough
Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is being linked with a return to English football to manage Middlesbrough
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Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has 'unfinished business' as a manager, but has warned he will only return to the dugout if the right opportunity presents itself.
Gerrard is being touted as a potential successor for Rob Edwards at Middlesbrough. Edwards is poised to be announced as the new head coach of Wolverhampton Wanderers, just four months after taking the reins at the Riverside.
Despite being ruled out by the Boro hierarchy in the summer, reports have once again linked Gerrard with the Championship post, and he features prominently on bookmakers' odds lists. According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Gerrard is 'well liked' by decision makers at the Teesside club.
The former England midfielder, 45, recently decided against a return to Rangers after discussions with the Scottish club, but has confessed he would 'jump at' a certain type of challenge.
In an interview with Rio Ferdinand's YouTube channel in October, Gerrard said: "I felt like I had [support] to a tee at Rangers. A lot of coach changes at Aston Villa and over in Saudi that I don't think helped me from a personal point of view.
"I'm now enjoying family time and doing a lot of things that I haven't been able to do.
"But there's a part of me that still feels that there's a bit of unfinished business in terms of wanting to go in and face another couple of exciting challenges.
"But I want a certain type of challenge. If in an ideal world they come available, I'll jump at them. If they don't, I won't go back in.
"I want to be at a team that's going to compete to win because I think that suits me better."
Middlesbrough's pitch to potential managers is strong - they sit second in the Championship with a genuine opportunity of securing promotion back to the Premier League. Saturday's victory over Birmingham City left them two points clear of the play-off places heading into the international break.
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Gerrard has been without a club since departing his position with Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia at the beginning of the year. He previously took charge of Aston Villa in the Premier League following more than three years at Rangers.
"I think certain jobs and certain clubs would suit my style and the way I like to go about it," the Anfield icon added.
"But I've also got time now where I'm not in a rush, where I know the right people that are out there to make me a stronger and a better coach. They're the people I need to find.
"Because if I get the right match with them people around me, I know and I've proved I can be successful as a manager. And that's what I'm working on in the background now.
"But I've had five or six really interesting phone calls since I stopped in Saudi. And I haven't been ready because I haven't got that team set around me. And the timing hasn't been right.
"My daughter's just had a baby. I've just become a granddad. I wasn't ready. I haven't got my staff ready. So unfortunately, them opportunities or them phone calls have come at the wrong time, if you like.
"But if the right call comes my way, the right club, the right challenge, and I've got my people set, which I will have at some point, I'll take that challenge on because it's in me."