After sacking Dean Smith, Aston Villa appoints Rangers manager Steven Gerrard

Steven Gerrard has been appointed the new manager of Aston Villa on a three-and-a-half-year contract ending his three-year reign at Rangers. 

Aston Villa has been on a hunt for the new manager after sacking Dean Smith on Sunday,  after five successive defeats.  

The club was rumoured to assign the duty to either Roberto Martinez or Steven Gerrard. However, the former Liverpool captain looked like a suitable candidate for this job. 

"Aston Villa is a club with a rich history and tradition in English football, and I am immensely proud to become its new head coach," marvelled Gerrard 

Why did Aston Villa choose Steven Gerrard? 

The former Liverpool player who represented the Reds 710 times won nine trophies, then moved to MLS side LA Galaxy in 2015 before retiring as a player the following year.

He resumed his football career as a manager and started coaching Liverpool's youth academy before coaching the under-18 team till the 2017-18 season. 

Gerrard then got an offer from an elite club, Rangers, in 2018, signing an initial four-year contract which was later extended to 2024 the following year.

His first season as Rangers manager, he finished second in the 2019-20 season and defeated Celtic, their first-ever win against them since 2012. 

The following year he guided the club to the first piece of silverware, as they finished the season unbeaten and lifted the title for the first time after 55-years, beating Celtic twice the same season. 

After departing Rangers, Gerrard said, "I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everybody associated with Glasgow Rangers for allowing me to manage such an iconic football club."

 

"Helping them secure a record-breaking 55th league title will always hold a special place in my heart. I would like to wish the players, staff, and supporters the very best for the future."

The former England skipper will have a lot of things on his plate. After the international break, Aston Villa will host Brighton before playing Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea. The club sits at 16th place and are two points above the relegation zone in the Premier League.

How will Steven Gerrard fare as a manager of Aston Villa? Will he be able to adapt his tactics to the fiercely competitive nature of the Premier League?