Steven Gerrard has admitted that he is in no rush to get back into football management after leaving his last post at Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq.
Earlier this year, the Liverpool icon departed from his role as head coach of Al-Ettifaq after 18 months in charge, with both parties agreeing to part ways by mutual consent.
Al-Etifaq was Gerrard’s third permanent managerial job after hanging up his boots.
The 44-year-old hit the spotlight after guiding Rangers to the Scottish Premiership and ending Celtic’s long-running stranglehold over the competition. The Rangers’ job was his first, and from there he went to Aston Villa.
However, his stint at Villa Park didn’t go so well and was sacked after just 11 months. He moved to Saudi Arabia shortly after that, but lasted only 18 months, before leaving the role in January.
Since leaving Al-Etifaq, Gerrard has been linked with several managerial posts, including a return to Ibrox, as well as John Eustace’s successor at Blackburn Rovers.
However, the former Liverpool captain claims he is in no rush to become a manager and is enjoying the freedom away from the intense training ground setting for coaches.
Speaking to former teammate Peter Crouch on the That Peter Crouch Podcast, in an episode filmed before the Liverpool Legends’ Match against Chelsea during the March international break, Gerrard said: “I don’t want to be back in work mate, no. I’m happy with waking up and being free, doing the family stuff, just being free away from stress,” when asked about his next move with regards management.
“I will go in at some point but when it’s round the clocks, I’ve doing it 18, 19 months, I want to be free, I want to play a round of golf, go down the boozer and have a couple of beers, do normal things that you can’t do when you’re coaching
“The next big draw is to get in the dressing room with the lads, run it back, obviously you can’t run as fast, and the intensity is not the same, but to have a game of footy with your mates is the draw.
“I’ve just travelled seven hours to do this, that’s why I come back to play at Anfield, full house, see the lads, have a game of footy, great craic.
“I love it you know, I miss it everyday and I speak to Carra and he goes, ‘I was made up, I hated the last few years’ I miss it every day, every single day.
“I would love to go back and run it back.
“To be honest, ‘coaching and management, it’ll fill the void, blah blah’ it doesn’t, it’s not the same.
“It’s a great job to be around, but in terms of the buzz, I didn’t appreciate it enough.”
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