Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has lifted the lid on his sacking at Aston Villa
Steven Gerrard during his time at Aston Villa
Steven Gerrard during his time at Aston Villa(Image: Getty Images)
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Steven Gerrard has admitted he regrets taking the Aston Villa job so early in his managerial career but accepts responsibility for his sacking three-and-a-half years ago.
The Liverpool legend replaced Dean Smith as Villa head coach in November 2021 but was dismissed less than a year later, in October 2022, following a run of just two wins in 11 league matches.
Gerrard was appointed by Christian Purslow, Villa’s former CEO, with whom he had an existing relationship from his time at Liverpool.
After guiding Rangers to their 55th league title and achieving an undefeated season in the Scottish Premiership during the 2020/21 campaign, Gerrard experienced his first major managerial setback at Villa, following a disastrous 3-0 defeat against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
“I have had some difficult times. Obviously, when you get the sack it is not nice,” Gerrard said on The Overlap. “I had a period after Villa when my head was done in for months. I understood it. If you have a run of form like we did, the responsibility was mine and I accepted it.
“I was sitting around gutted because I felt like there was a big opportunity going into the first full season to build on a half-decent start. That was a tough one for me.
“I had mixed emotions. I was feeling sorry for myself. Felt a bit bitter. Felt a bit useless. You go through these emotions, but come round to understanding that it’s part of it.
“I still sit here and think that what I saw from November to May, and then the signings we made, I felt that there was a real chance to kick on. I have to take it on the chin.”
Speaking of leaving Rangers for Villa, Gerrard said: “The level was a big jump. Probably didn't realise at the time when I made that decision. In hindsight again, we talk about hindsight, we'd all be great with hindsight, wouldn't we? Would have stayed at Rangers longer, more experience, stay up there for longer.
“So I regret doing it now, sitting here, I didn't at the time. It was tough. Also the conversations with Rangers after we won it, the recruitment and the finance chats that we were having, didn't feel like Rangers were ready to go again.
“It was a bit more of a like, ‘oh, let's settle this and fix that and do that.’ The promises weren’t as strong as I thought they would be. Then the Premier League offer and opportunity comes in, it's tough. It's tough to say no to that.
“I’ve got nothing bad to say about Villa. I need to get that in as well. Villa are a really good club, good people, fantastic facilities. The opportunity was given to me, and it didn’t work out, so that’s on me.”
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