Nobody would have blamed Steven Gerrard had he accepted the opportunity to manage MK Dons back in November.The Liverpool legend had only just made the decision to bring an end to his illustrious playing career and the offer from the League One side must have been tempting.After all, opportunities to manage clubs in either the Premier League or the Football League are rare for newly-qualified coaches, even if they have massive reputations. Just ask Ryan Giggs.“I’m just taking a bit of time to consider what’s next, exciting times moving forward,” Gerrard told BT Sport, per the Independent, after deciding to reject the job offer.“I spoke to MK Dons. I had a chat with the chairman, it’s a very exciting job for somebody else but it’s a bit soon for me. But it’s true, I did speak to them.”
Gerrard to take charge of Liverpool's U18s next season
Instead, Gerrard returned to Liverpool in January after accepting a coaching role with the club’s academy.
According to The Times, the retired midfielder has impressed Jurgen Klopp and academy director Alex Inglethorpe with his application and work ethic, hence why he will now take charge of the Reds’ Under-18 side next season.
Gerrard will presumably still combine his new role with his job as a pundit for BT Sport.
The former Liverpool captain showed on Saturday evening why he’ll make a fine man-manager with his passionate rant about why “talented” young footballers won’t fulfil their potential unless they’re prepared to give absolutely everything on the pitch.
Watch: Gerrard's rant about 'talented' young players
“I was obsessed [with being the best],” Gerrard admitted live on BT Sport. “I was obsessed at moving people out of the way and going into the training obsessed at being the best player in training every single day.
“If I didn’t, I’d go home and think about it and try to do it the next day. You have to be obsessed. Even though they’re your teammates, you’ve got to be obsessed to move them out of the way, and once you’re in, they’re staying out of the way and not coming back.”
He added: “The word talent frustrates me. I love talent and I love seeing it, but these players need to understand the other side of the game: fighting, winning, tackling, going where it hurts, letting your lungs burn, really digging deep.
“The end of games when young kids want to give up, you can’t do that at Premier League level or Champions League level so, for me, just as important as talent is the other side of the game.”
Gerrard has nailed it
Gerrard is absolutely spot on.
So many talented young footballers end up falling by the wayside because they lack the mentality required to compete week-in, week-out at the highest level.
Gerrard will be drumming it into Liverpool’s starlets from the start of next season that talent alone has never make a top-class footballer.