Liverpool Should Turn to Iconic Player as New Assistant Manager – Opinion | OneFootball

Could Steven Gerrard Be the Ideal First Team Addition?

Liverpool’s Premier League title parade was followed by several hard resets, emotionally and structurally. Among them may be a significant change to Arne Slot’s backroom staff after just one year on Merseyside. Assistant manager John Heitinga is strongly linked with a return to the Netherlands, where Ajax look poised to offer him their head coach position. It’s a logical move for the former Dutch international and validates his short but successful stint on Merseyside. Though the ambitious former midfielder may well choose to remain under the wing of a world-class steward such as Slot for one more year, a move to the illustrious Ajax engineer hot seat may prove too tempting.

Slot will, understandably, want continuity within his setup—but this unexpected vacancy may present an opportunity for something different. Something iconic may well come to the Anfield fore and may well offer a new and historic dynamic. As Liverpool prepares for a sweeping summer rebuild on the pitch, a familiar face from the past could help reinforce the cultural core of the squad: Steven Gerrard, the Red’s greatest-ever servant.

A Legend in Need of a Reset

It’s no secret that Gerrard’s managerial career hasn’t hit the heights many anticipated, especially following his fast start in Scotland as Rangers manager. A league title with the Ibrox giants was followed by underwhelming spells at Aston Villa and, most recently, Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League. The latter seemed more like a retreat than a challenge—a quiet exit from Europe’s intense spotlight to solidify his family’s future with unbelievable wealth. His tactical identity blurred, his teams disjointed, and for all the aura Gerrard carries as a player, it hasn’t translated consistently into the dugout. The time to reset has arrived and where better than his footballing church?

This would not be seen as a step-down, merely recognition that it’s not yet his time to lead. Maybe what Gerrard needs is not another head coaching job in a volatile setting that puts him continually under the spotlight, but a return to his footballing roots—his footballing family.

A first-team coaching role at Liverpool, under a modern tactician like Arne Slot, could be the perfect decision. It would allow Gerrard to deepen his understanding of cutting-edge systems, absorb fresh ideas, and reconnect with the club’s daily rhythms at a tactical and emotional level. No pressure on results, no weekly inquests—just learning, contributing, evolving. The respect within the dressing would be immediate and you suspect that his new boss, Slot, would remain ultra-professional and expect the same of his potential new appointee.

Learning from Thiago, Learning from Within

The idea of elite ex-players transitioning into top coaches has gained momentum in the past ten years, and recent developments at Barcelona only strengthen the case. Former Liverpool maestro Thiago Alcântara, who joined Hansi Flick’s staff after injury forced a premature retirement, has received glowing feedback from those close to the Barca setup. Praised for his tactical clarity and player management instincts, Thiago’s coaching arc already feels promising. As perhaps the greatest operator ever to grace the hallowed Anfield turf, the emerging youth sat on the brink of the elite could surely learn from a player who is closer to a magician than a sportsman. He too would surely be a candidate to work under a man like Arne, with boundless enthusiasm and talent that will still be prominent to the stable below him.

There’s no reason Gerrard couldn’t follow a similar path as Thiago. He already has a head start in the form of managerial experience, despite its mixed results. In Liverpool’s current context, Gerrard wouldn’t be a vanity hire or nostalgic appointment, but something that enhanced the needs of both the squad and the coaching staff. He’d be a bridge between eras—a living symbol of club identity who could connect with younger players while learning from a progressive footballing mind like Slot.

Gerrard doesn’t need to dominate the dressing room; he just needs to be in it. A desire for a win will forever be ingrained within the former number eight, whereas the pain of defeat in red would be a real and lasting result of his adoration.

What is the Answer?

Liverpool is entering a new age—fresh management, strategic squad turnover, and a post-Klopp culture that’s still taking shape. The Sporting CEO, Michael Edwards, and his Sporting Director, Richard Hughes, may see bringing Gerrard into this moment would reinforce continuity, and more importantly, recalibrate his career from a place of strength. With Alexander-Arnold likely to leave, the club is light on cultural torchbearers in the dressing room. Gerrard’s presence would reintroduce that spine—not as a sentimental talisman, but as someone players inherently respect.

This wouldn’t be the path to immediate glory for Gerrard, nor is it meant to be. It’s a long game—an opportunity to observe, contribute, and eventually re-emerge with a more refined vision of who he is as a coach. For Slot, it’s a chance to add a highly motivated apprentice to his bench. For Liverpool, it’s the perfect convergence of opportunity, timing, and symbolism.

There’s a famous quote from Gerrard during his playing days: “When you put on the shirt, you carry the history.” Perhaps it’s time he puts on the staff tracksuit, not to carry history, but to help shape the future.

Imagine the scenes and the noise within fortress Anfield that would erupt on opening day, if Steven Gerrard were to become part of his team once more.