More than three years have passed since Steven Gerrard managed in England but the former England and Liverpool midfielder could be set to make a comeback
Steven Gerrard in April 2026
Steven Gerrard's managerial career has come back into focus(Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
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More than a year after his Al Ettifaq exit, Steven Gerrard has been linked with a return to dugout. The former Liverpool midfielder could be about to make a first return to English football since leaving Aston Villa in 2022, with his list of player fines catching the eye during his time at Villa Park.
Burnley are the club to have been linked with a move for Gerrard. The Clarets still have Scott Parker in the dugout but their relegation from the Premier League was confirmed earlier this month and a potential change has been floated.
Gerrard's list of fines was a talking point during his time at Villa Park. The list came to light in the summer of 2022 and quickly spread far and wide, with lateness appearing to be a particular bugbear for the 45-year-old.
Players who were late to training were slapped with a £500 fine, while it was £200 per minute for anyone late to the training pitch, team coach or a team meeting. The per-minute clarification didn't matter on match-days, though - if you were late then, even by just a few seconds, it meant a fine of £1,000.
Further punishments came the way of those booked for dissent or sent off for any reason, those failing to clear their plates from the table after a meal or those leaving snus - the nicotine product which caused concern through its popularity with footballers - anywhere within sight. Gerrard's hard-stance left a real impression in the football world, not least from his former Liverpool team-mate Peter Crouch.
"What happens if it's a professional foul and it saves your team?," Crouch asked on That Peter Crouch Podcast. "It might save you a point and you still have to take [the team] for dinner? Maybe someone could chip in like, 'you helped us out there, let me put some money into this'"
Crouch and his guest on the podcast, former Aston Villa and Stoke star Steve Sidwell, were particularly drawn to the per-minute fines for being late to meetings. "£200 a minute? What if you forget and don't turn up for two hours?" Crouch asked.
"I think I've seen this before and, I don't know whether it was true or not, purely because of the amounts. Because that is extortionate," Sidwell said.
The list of fines which Steven Gerrard reportedly had in place at Aston Villa
The list of fines which Steven Gerrard reportedly had in place at Aston Villa
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Gerrard passed up the opportunity to return to management with Rangers earlier this season and has been working as a pundit of late. However, he hinted at a potential return when speaking to talkSPORT earlier this month and recent reports suggest he would 'jump at' the chance to manage Burnley if the opportunity arises.
"Listen, I'm more ready than I have been," the former England international said, "My family are back home at Liverpool, kids are all settled at school. I'm more ready than I have been; I'm all ears.
"But at the same time, I'm not chasing, I'm not searching, I'm not desperate. I'm in a good place, work-life balance is fantastic at the moment, but if the right opportunity comes, I'm all ears to listen to that.
"I'm having a fantastic time at TNT with Ally [McCoist] and the boys, and the girls, really enjoying it. I'm covering some good games, big games, I'm excited to take my little lad to watch the next Champions League games.
"I'm in a really good place, and I'm ready for opportunities. If not, I'm happy with my work-life balance, life's good, no complaints at all."
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