Steven Gerrard has revealed for the first time that he now regrets leaving Rangers when he did, admitting a failure to grasp the significant challenge of managing in the Premier League contributed to a career move he subsequently came to rue.
The Liverpool legend, who led Rangers to an historic unbeaten Scottish Premiership title in 2021, walked away from Ibrox that November to take charge of Aston Villa. Speaking on The Overlap podcast, Gerrard stated plainly: ‘I regret doing it now, sitting here. I didn’t at the time.’
The Promises That Weren’t Kept
Central to his decision to depart was a profound sense that the club’s board was not prepared to build on their title triumph. Gerrard detailed post-title discussions about recruitment and finances that left him disillusioned. ‘The conversations with Rangers after we won it… didn’t feel like Rangers were ready to go again,’ he said. ‘It was a bit more of a like, “oh, let’s settle this and fix that”. The promises weren’t as strong as what I thought they would be.’
This perception was rooted in specific financial backing he felt he was denied. Gerrard has claimed he requested £6 million for transfer targets to bolster the squad following their unbeaten season, a request that was not met. The club’s reliance on free transfers in that period, coupled with rivals Celtic strengthening their side, solidified his view that the investment required to compete domestically and in Europe was not forthcoming. He has stated that had he received the necessary backing, he would have remained at Rangers.
This contrasts with a public statement he made in March 2020, during a difficult run of form, when he insisted he had the full backing of the Rangers board, including then-chairman Dave King. The later reflections paint a different picture of the support he felt was available for the next phase of the project.
The situation culminated in a Champions League play-off defeat to Malmo in August 2021, which Gerrard cited as evidence of the squad’s limitations. Shortly after, the offer from Aston Villa arrived. ‘Then the Premier League offer and opportunity comes in, it’s tough,’ Gerrard admitted. ‘It’s tough to say no to Villa, a great club.’
A Harsh Lesson and a Path Back
Gerrard’s regret is compounded by the subsequent trajectory of his career. He was sacked by Aston Villa in October 2022 after less than a year in charge, following a 3-0 defeat to Fulham. A subsequent 18-month spell with Saudi Pro-League side Al-Ettifaq ended with his dismissal in January 2025.
With hindsight, he acknowledged he underestimated the step up from Scotland to England. His regret is informed by this experience and the benefit of reflection.
The possibility of a return to Ibrox has since emerged. Following the sacking of Russell Martin in October 2025, Gerrard was reportedly the Rangers board’s first choice to return. He held discussions about the vacancy but ultimately turned it down, stating the timing was not right, though he has expressed openness to a future return. The club instead appointed Danny Rohl.
Managing the Maverick
Elsewhere in his reflections, Gerrard identified striker Alfredo Morelos as the most challenging player he managed at Rangers, citing the Colombian’s ‘maverick behaviours’ and tendency to ‘bend the rules’.
‘Sometimes you’d have to bite your tongue and turn a blind eye to one or two,’ Gerrard said, explaining the delicate balance of managing a volatile but key talent. Morelos scored 17 goals in the title-winning season, but his disciplinary issues off the park forced Gerrard to plan around his unreliability.
This management strategy directly influenced the club’s recruitment. Gerrard revealed he specifically brought in forwards Jermain Defoe and Kemar Roofe as a contingency for periods when Morelos was challenging the team’s values or unavailable. ‘Defoe and Kemar Roofe were itching to play and they were as good as him,’ Gerrard said, crediting their contributions as crucial to securing the league title.
