Gerrard: Klopp has given me 'invaluable' coaching advice
Steven Gerrard, who was appointed as the manager of Liverpool Under 18s at the start of this season, has lauded the importance of having Jurgen Klopp as a mentor.
Speaking with the Liverpool FC website, Gerrard called the German's advice "invaluable". Gerrard left Liverpool in 2015, in favour of a move to the American MLS, however after retiring in late 2016, the Liverpool legend decided to make the move into coaching.
A few months later, in January 2017, it was announced that the former midfield general would join the Liverpool coaching team, after rejecting interest from MK Dons. He worked within the team until April 2017, when he was appointed head coach of the Under 18 side for the 2016/17 season.
His youth side are currently third in the in the Under 18 Premier League, and the ex-England international has attributed this success in part to the guidance of Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool's senior team manager. Gerrard revealed the advice that Klopp gave to him ahead of accepting the role as head coach.
"We had numerous conversations and I asked Jurgen a lot of questions about what it was like," he said, speaking to the Liverpool website.
"He gave me the pros and the cons, and gave me invaluable advice moving forward. I'm enjoying the role and making loads of mistakes, but they're off-camera – which is what he suggested was the best move."
He also stated that he had gained respect for the managers who had coached him in the past. "Now I've got more respect for managers and coaches," he said. "I used to think I was the best coach and manager in the world when I was a player."
Klopp himself has praised Gerrard's work, in an interview with betting company 'BetVictor', who sponsor Liverpool. "It's a fantastic time at the moment," he claimed. "Hopefully Steven feels that he can really do what I miss very often - just train. Because the job now has so many things that sometimes there is no time for training and you think, 'wow, how did that happen?'"
"I'm really happy that Steven enjoys [the coaching], because it doesn't happen too often that a player of his size starts on this level."