Steven Gerrard doesn’t understand why his name has been linked to the Everton manager position. The former midfielder was put forward by various British media as the ideal successor to Carlo Ancelotti who left for Real Madrid, but says he has never thought about it himself. In the end, Marcel Brands chose someone else with a past at Liverpool: Rafael Benítez.
After Ancelotti’s somewhat surprising departure to Real, a large number of coaches were associated with the trainer position at Goodison Park. Among them also Gerrard, icon of Liverpool and successful trainer at Rangers in recent years. Gerrard managed to crown himself champion of Scotland with his team this spring. With that, he ended a run of nine league titles in a row for Celtic. Opposite ESPN Gerrard says he is “shocked” by the reports that linked him with the coaching job at Everton. Everton has never been an option for the 114-time England international.
“I was very shocked and surprised that my name was linked to Everton,” said Gerrard. “I don’t know where it came from, whether it was just a rumor or if there was some truth to it. I don’t know. Everton is never an option for me.” However, the appointment of Benítez also failed to please many Everton fans. The former Liverpool manager had great success with the Reds and in 2005 seized the Champions League, in which Gerrard played an important role in the legendary final against AC Milan with the connection goal.
Gerrard says he understands the choice for Benítez. “Benítez was not born in the city,” Gerrard explains Everton’s choice. “He’s not red through and through and he hasn’t played against Everton and fought them for 20 years. That’s a very different situation from my situation. Rafa will make his own professional decisions, so it should come as no surprise that he returns to the Premier League with a major club. He will have the opportunity at Everton to compete against top English clubs, so I was not shocked and surprised to be honest.”
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