Why 'Player' Should Not Be Part of Any Steven Gerrard Role Back at Liverpool

Speculation surrounding Steven Gerrard's future increased this week with the confirmation of the midfielder's exit from Los Angeles Galaxy.

Gerrard has returned to England following his 18 months in Major League Soccer, with some observers describing his stint in the USA as a disappointment.

"I would say that although we saw a few flashes from Gerrard in his time with Galaxy, he never lived up to expectations," Fox Soccer's Keith Costigan told Bleacher Report at the end of October. 

The Guardian's Graham Ruthven provided a more damning assessment, writing that "Gerrard never fully committed to his MLS task," citing his numerous trips back to England, where he even took on media responsibilities on the opposite side of the Atlantic to his club team.

Confirming his exit from Galaxy, Gerrard admitted his disappointment at not lifting an MLS Cup, but attention now turns to the 36-year-old's future.

"I am now looking forward to spending time with my family as I consider the next stage of my career," he said in a club statement. "It’s certainly not the end of me, in football terms. I’ve got a lot of things to consider over the coming weeks and months. I’m sure I’ll be back involved in the game. I’ve got options on the pitch, off the pitch."

Gerrard has been linked in recent weeks with a reunion with former manager Brendan Rodgers at Celtic, per the Daily Record. 

But two days after the former Liverpool and England captain's departure was confirmed, he was linked with the vacant manager's job at League One side Milton Keynes Dons, per BBC Sport's Phil Shepka.

It's quite the curveball and would seemingly put an end to Gerrard's playing career. It's worth noting that his Galaxy registration doesn't expire until January, so he couldn't play for a new club until then anyway.

That this link has been published from a journalist with connections at MK Dons suggests it's the club seeking to link with the player.

Shepka said: "Steven Gerrard and MK Dons have been in contact over the vacant manager's role." You can assume that's MK Dons making, or seeking to make, contact with Gerrard. What we don't know is if that contact even led to discussions.

Liverpool

Gerrard's wife recently announced her pregnancy, and he is a family man who loves his hometown city. He won't be taking up a job abroad, and in his video with Galaxy, he specifically said he was "going back to England to live."

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So while Gerrard will clearly have offers on the table, it still seems inevitable that he will end up back at his boyhood club at Anfield.

What his role will be back at Liverpool is the big question.

Former player and TV pundit Mark Lawrenson, like some supporters, has suggested a player-coach role for Gerrard, saying that he could "definitely play in this Liverpool team," per BBC Sport.

It's an outrageous claim from Lawrenson, and anybody else for that matter.

Anybody suggesting a playing role for 36-year-old Gerrard has seemingly not seen him play in the last three years and not seen Liverpool play in the last three months under manager Jurgen Klopp.

You can only assume that Lawrenson and others are so blinkered by sheer emotional sentiment that it blurs their judgement.

Gerrard was a shadow of his former self in his final season at Anfield, as he and the rest of the club struggled to come to terms with the way the 2013/14 campaign had ended in failure. Mentally, he was shot.

He's then struggled, especially physically, with the demands of MLS, a league that's far, far inferior to the Premier League. If a 36-year-old midfielder can't keep pace in MLS, how can he keep pace in Klopp's all-action, gegenpressing, energetic machine?

Some have suggested a substitute role for Gerrard, then. Those people have seemingly not looked at Liverpool's bench in recent weeks—a bench that has featured the likes of Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum.

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What role exactly would Gerrard play from the bench? He doesn't have the legs to impact the game if needing a goal, and Liverpool have far better options if needing to shore things up in midfield.

What would be gained from Gerrard having a playing role? Very little. There is also a chance it could tarnish his legacy at Anfield. Imagine if Liverpool are top of the league in January, Gerrard then returns as a player, is completely unable to perform within Klopp's energetic team as he nears his 37th birthday and the Reds end up not winning the title.

Therefore, any role back at Liverpool should not involve Gerrard as a player.

Of course, supporters would love to see Gerrard, arguably the club's greatest player, lift the league title that eluded him during his 17 years as a player from 1998 to 2015, erasing the memories of that final appearance in the 6-1 defeat at Stoke City. But life doesn't work like that, and Gerrard had his fairytale in Istanbul.

According to Goal's Melissa Reddy, Gerrard "has enjoyed productive talks with Liverpool over a coaching position but has made it clear he wants a meaningful role rather than a symbolic one."

Key there is that it is talks over a coaching position, meaning we should be able to rightly rule out a playing role.

Coaching

Lawrenson also suggested Gerrard—and Jamie Carragher—take training sessions, saying: "It would be great."

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It's another ridiculous romanticism from Lawrenson. Why would it be great? What's wrong with the trusted and qualified assistants of Peter Krawietz and Zeljko Buvac, whom Klopp has had as his so-called brains and eyes of his coaching staff since his days at Borussia Dortmund?

Fortunately, Klopp is not one for such emotionally driven nonsense, and although he has said Gerrard is "always welcome" at Liverpool, it's highly unlikely he is about to offer him any major role within his coaching staff. Quite frankly, there is no need and no such vacancy.

A role that would see Gerrard working at the Reds' academy, coaching, mentoring and guiding young players, would be excellent. This would be similar to how many former Ajax players begin their coaching careers at the Dutch club's famous youth academy.  

Dennis Bergkamp is an assistant coach at Ajax, but he spent three years in their academy first.

Such a role at Liverpool for Gerrard could see him link up with his former academy head and a huge influence in his career, Steve Heighway.

Gerrard is clearly keen to stay in football and keen for a return to Liverpool. But the Reds aren't likely to offer him a meaningful role within the first-team coaching staff.

Whether he will accept a role that is more academy-based, should one be offered, is for Gerrard to decide. He may feel he has unfinished business.

Perhaps heading north to Celtic for five months and finally claiming an elusive league title would at least provide a fitting end to his playing career.

* Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise stated.