Steven Gerrard to Villa: the ex-Liverpool chief who could give another big hand after ousting Hicks & Gillett

Another Premier League vacancy, another job Steven Gerrard's heavily linked to.

Let's be frank, it's hardly a surprise.

It was only a couple of weeks ago when the Liverpool legend was in the reckoning to become Newcastle's first manager in their new Saudi Arabia-owned era. Eddie Howe’s instead landed the job.

Now Gerrard's supposedly at the top of Aston Villa's wish list to replace the sacked Dean Smith.

Having led Rangers to Scottish Premiership glory last season, and on track to retain their crown this time around, Gerrard's one of the most exciting upcoming managers in football.

As things stand, he is the bookmakers' favourite to take charge at Villa Park.

He's 10/11 with Sky Bet to land the role, with Southampton's Ralph Hasenhuttl and Brentford's Thomas Frank also coveted, as per The Telegraph.

What's Gerrard said about his future?

When linked with Newcastle job, Gerrard was emphatic he wasn't going to be the man to replace Steve Bruce.

He said last month: “I don't really react, or get involved in any kind of speculation, especially when there is someone who I have the utmost respect for sitting in that job, that the speculation is about.

“For me, I am in a very big job and a very big role here that I am very much fully focused on.

“We have got a top of the table clash at the weekend and it's a game I'm very much looking forward to.”

Stepping stone

Both Newcastle and Villa are clubs with designs on breaking into Europe in the next couple of seasons.

Villa lost talisman Jack Grealish to Manchester City during the summer, but that £100 million was reinvested in the purchases of Danny Ings, Emiliano Buendía and Leon Bailey.

Five successive defeats have left Villa 15th in the Premier League, though. That’s well below the midlands outfit's expectations for the campaign, with the axe being wielded on Smith as a ramification.

Perhaps, then, Gerrard might some hesitations if he has indeed been earmarked as their new boss. He may well feel he won’t get the time he requires to make his mark and meet the same fate as Smith.

After all, Gerrard’s main aim is to take charge at Anfield in the future. Many Kopites believe he's Jurgen Klopp's ready-made successor when he leaves.

A sacking on Gerrard's resume might hamper his chances of a return to his boyhood club.

First of all, Gerrard needs a stepping stone somewhere. Premier League experience will be paramount before moving to Liverpool.

Just look at how things turned out for Frank Lampard at Chelsea, for example.

Eighteen months is all the Stamford Bridge icon lasted before he was given his marching orders. Club legend or not, they get treated just the same as every other manager if things aren’t working out.

One season at Derby in the Championship didn’t provide Lampard with enough nous to lead the Londoners to glory.

And with the utmost respect to the Scottish Premiership, it’s nowhere near as competitive as south of the border. There are some decent outfits, with Hearts catching the eye this season, but ultimately the division is dominated by Celtic and Rangers.

There aren’t many relatively inexperienced managers who make the plunge from Scotland to the Premier League and succeed.

Villa, then, could provide Gerrard with the platform to mould himself into the ilk of manager required.

And by going to Villa, he'd have the backing of a former Anfield ally.

Mutual respect

Christian Purslow is chief executive at Villa Park and is the man responsible for engineering their bid to catapult the club back among the top-flight elite again.

He was the one who held a meeting with Smith at the club’s training ground on Sunday and delivered the hammer blow.

Now the pressure is on Purslow has to get the replacement spot on.

A so-called big name is what might be coveted. After all, Thierry Henry was wanted before Smith but the ex-Arsenal striker instead opted for Monaco.

Gerrard certainly fits that category and his rapport with Purslow might just him an edge on potential rivals.

Between June 2009-October 2010, Purslow was managing director at Liverpool.

He was part of the set-up that renegotiated a £350 million loan the club had outstanding with RBS before helping oust much-maligned owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

After Fenway Sports Group's 2010 takeover, Gerrard - then captain of the Reds - saluted the work carried out by Purslow.

He said: “Credit needs to go to Christian, Ian (Ayre) and the chairman who have worked so hard on this.

“It seems things are nearly sorted off the pitch, so we need to start getting them right on it by getting three points at Goodison.

“I know how frustrated the fans have been with what has been going on and I can understand their feelings. We have all suffered, especially the supporters. Now it’s time for us all to pull together and help move the club forward.”

The feeling of respect and admiration is mutual. Before taking the Rangers job in 2018, Purslow was adamant Gerrard would be a huge hit,

“Ten years ago Rangers were in a major European final and the trials and tribulations of that club since then are well documented," Purslow told Sky Sports.

“Frankly, disappearing from the top table of European football where this once great club proudly sat, to associate with a person of the reputation of Steven Gerrard puts them back on the map."

There’s bound to be plenty of speculation in the coming days over Gerrard’s future and who will next take the Villa hot seat.

Should the 2005 Champions League-winning captain ditch Rangers for Villa, it could well do Liverpool a favour in years to come.

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