England football legend Steven Gerrard has admitted that he would be happy to take a role with the Football Association when he decides to end his playing career.
The former Liverpool stalwart has been linked to a return to his beloved Anfield in a coaching role and has spent time training at the club recently in the company of Jurgen Klopp.
“I don’t think I am ready for management at the moment. I am doing my qualifications and I’m trying to gain as much experience as possible. I’ve got dreams and aspirations of taking the plunge one day but I have to see and work out for myself what role is going to suit me, what role do I think I am going to be able to contribute at and also what roles are going to be offered,” Gerrard was quoted as saying by Sky Sports on Wednesday.
“I don’t want to shut any doors and I don’t want to make any rash decisions because where I sit now, I still feel healthy, I still feel fit. I still feel like I could play at most levels of the game. So right now, I’m not ready to retire,” he said.
The LA Galaxy midfielder said he would also be prepared to work with the FA, having won 114 caps for England over a 14-year international career.
“Will I be ready in 10 or 11 months time? We will have to wait and see, but I’d love nothing better than to be with Liverpool or the FA because they are the ones that have been great to me throughout my playing career and they are the ones I am going to be biased towards,” he said.
“Come the end of this season – if I do decide to call it a day – I am going to be available for whatever role is thrown at me,” the former Liverpool skipper said.
Gerrard said he had learned a lot from working with Klopp this winter. The 35-year-old was training with Liverpool before he begins his first pre-season with the Galaxy.
“I enjoyed and loved working with Jurgen Klopp… he made me feel very welcome. He spoke to me about certain tactics that he uses and why he does it. I had a couple of coffees with him away from training, which helped to build a relationship, and I gained a great deal of experience so I am very grateful to him for that,” he said.
