Aston Villa preferred to part with the former glory of Liverpool in view of the few results obtained from the club.
Steven Gerrard has been sacked as Aston Villa manager less than two hours after the Villans lost 3-0 at Fulham on Thursday in the Premier League Matchday 12.
« Aston Villa FC are now confirmed by contractor Steven Gerrard leaving the club with immediate effect, » said Aston Villa in a statement. « We would like to thank Steven for his hard work and commitment, and wish him well for the future, » the club added. Legend of Liverpool, Gerrard pays for the poor results of the formation of Birmingham, current 17th in the Premier League, tied on points (9) with the 18th and first relegation, Wolverhampton.
Villa have won just two of their eleven league games this year. Thursday’s rout was the straw that broke the camel’s back for the club’s hierarchy, who sacked Gerrard after just eleven months in charge. Gerrard and his players were booed after the match by Villa fans, furious at the defeat at Fulham which brought the club’s number of games without a win to four.
Gerrard led Aston Villa to 14th place last season. Rangers arrive to replace Dean Smith in November 2021, on a three-and-a-half-year contract.
Fight against relegation
The club had hopes that the former Liverpool and England player would lift the club to the top of the table. But instead, Aston Villa are now battling relegation.
Gerrard won the Scottish league title with Rangers in 2021, ending Celtic’s long spell of dominance. But he hasn’t been able to build on that impressive track record since joining Aston Villa. The team has also been handicapped by injuries to new signings Diego Carlos and Boubacar Kamara, as well as Lucas Digne.
During his press conference after the meeting against Fulham, Gerrard had sworn to save his job. « I am a fighter, I will never, ever give up anything, whether in football or in life. We will see what happens. I will keep fighting, unless I am told otherwise « , he had declared. But only a few minutes after this declaration, Villa announced his licensee.
Aston Villa, owned by billionaires Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, are ready to pay the Premier League’s highest salary to scouts for Gerrard’s best replacement, according to British media. Former Paris Saint Germain and Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has been mentioned for the job, as has former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel. Whether Pochettino or Tuchel could be persuaded to join a club in such a perilous position remains to be seen.
Other potential candidates include Villarreal entrant Unai Emery, who has Premier League experience with Arsenal, and former Burnley entrant Sean Dyche and veterans of relegation battles with the Clarets.