KOMPAS.com - Legenda Liverpool , Steven Gerrard dipastikan akan menjadi pelatih klub legendaris Liga Skotlandia, Rangers FC musim depan setelah pihak klub secara resmi mengumumkannya pada Jumat (4/5/2016) pagi waktu setempat.
Steven Gerrard tidak bisa menyembunyikan kebahagiaanya karena akan segera memulai karier kepelatihan bersama Rangers.
"Saya bangga bisa menjadi manjaer Rangers. Saya sangat menghormati klub ini dan juga sejarahnya," kata legenda Liverpool itu seperti dikutip dari situs resmi Rangers.
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Welcome To #RangersFC Steven Gerrard. ?????????? pic.twitter.com/9wDYjU5kTz
"Saya sudah tidak sabar akan memulai perjalanan baru saya bersama Rangers. Kami akan mencoba untuk sukses sesuai dengan apa yang biasa klub ini lakukan," ujar Gerrard menambahkan.
Rangers FC, lebih dikenal dengan Glasgow Rangers di Indonesia, merupakan klub legendaris Skotlandia. Mereka merupakan pemegang rekor juara liga dengan 54 trofi.
Klub berjulukan The Gers itu baru memecat Graeme Murty pada 1 Mei lalu. Jimmy Nicholl saat ini menjadi caretaker pelatih hingga musim berakhir lalu digantikan Gerrard.
Bagi Gerrard, Rangers akan menjadi tim utama pertama yang dilatihnya.
Setelah pensiun sebagai pemain pada tahun 2017 lalu, Gerrard tidak berhenti dari dunia sepak bola dengan menjadi pelatih tim junior Liverpool.
Kedatangan Gerrard ke Liga Skotlandia akan menjadi menarik karena dirinya akan menghadapi pelatih Celtic, Brendan Rodgers. Brendan Rodgers pernah menjadi pelatih Gerrard di Liverpool pada tahun 2012 hingga 2015.
Media playback is not supported on this device Rangers job gives me 'special feeling' - Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard says he "got a special feeling" when he first spoke to Rangers about becoming their new manager as he vowed to "make the fans happy".
The 37-year-old former Liverpool captain has agreed a four-year deal to take over at Ibrox this summer.
And Gerrard confirmed that former Scotland skipper Gary McAllister would be his assistant at the Scottish Premiership club.
"It was a no-brainer for me," said Gerrard after being paraded.
"There were a lot of different things to think about but from that first phone call I got a special feeling and I knew that Rangers were for me.
"I'm very aware of Rangers, the size of the club, I've watched them from afar and been lucky enough to watch some of the Old Firm games.
"This opportunity doesn't come around all the time - clubs with this size, stature and history. I believe I can come in and make these fans happy."
Gerrard, who replaces interim manager Graeme Murty, made 710 appearances and won nine trophies for Liverpool over 19 years and was capped 114 times by England.
He captained his country at three of the six major tournaments at which he played and was Reds skipper for almost 12 years.
He retired in 2016 after a spell with LA Galaxy and joined the youth set-up at Anfield after rejecting an offer to become manager of MK Dons.
Gerrard insisted he would need to get his "feet in the door and teeth into the job" before assessing what needs done.
"If I didn't have confidence in myself and my staff and the board I wouldn't have come here," he said. "In terms of targets, I just want to win football matches. That's my buzz."
Media playback is not supported on this device Managers react to Gerrard appointment
Of McAllister, who was a team-mate of Gerrard's at Liverpool and also played for and managed Leeds and Coventry, the new Rangers boss said: "He's a long-time friend of mine.
"I have huge respect for Gary and he ticks the box where, maybe I'm not the most experienced manager right now, but he's been in the game for a very long time and as a partnership I feel will be very strong.
"He will be a rock and a very big support and as soon as I asked him it was a 'yes' straight away.
"I learned so much from Gary and I couldn't ask for anyone better to take on this challenge with me.
Chairman Dave King said Gerrard "ticked every box" other than experience.
"A lot of the other managers who have been named, they have had experience but that experience was not necessarily good. Steven's character outweighed his inexperience," King said.
Murty left his post on Tuesday with the side third in the Premiership. His assistants, Jimmy Nicholl and Jonatan Johansson, will in charge for the final three games of the season starting at home against Kilmarnock on Saturday.
Steven Gerrard replaces Graeme Murty as the new manager of Rangers
Steven Gerrard has been appointed as Rangers manager on a four-year deal.
The former Liverpool midfielder, 37, replaces Graeme Murty, who was placed in interim charge following the October sacking of Pedro Caixinha.
Gerrard, who leaves his role as a youth coach at Anfield to take up the Rangers job this summer, captained the Reds and England.
"I am honoured to become the next manager of Rangers," Gerrard told Rangers' website.
"I have enormous respect for this football club, and its history and tradition. I can't wait to start this new journey at Rangers as we look to build on the many successes that this club has achieved."
The club say Gerrard's backroom staff "will be announced in due course".
Gerrard made 710 appearances and won nine trophies for Liverpool over 19 years and was capped 114 times by England. He captained the national team at three of the six major tournaments at which he played and was Reds skipper for almost 12 years.
He retired in 2016 after a spell with LA Galaxy and joined the youth set-up at Anfield after rejecting an offer to become manager of MK Dons.
Rangers chairman Dave King said: "From the very beginning, talks have been extremely positive and we believe that Steven is the right man to drive Rangers forward.
"He was extremely impressive throughout our negotiations and we are convinced that he has the necessary knowledge and temperament to lead the club to the success we all desire.
"This a special day for our club, our fans and for Steven."
Jimmy Nicholl took Rangers training on Friday before Saturday's meeting with Kilmarnock
Murty, having had six games in charge following Mark Warburton's departure last season, returned to managing the Rangers team on an interim basis earlier this term. By December the 43-year-old was put in formal charge for the rest of the campaign after the club's unsuccessful approach for Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes.
The former Scotland and Reading defender won 18 of his 29 games in charge this season and lost eight before being relieved of the manager's duties on Tuesday.
His assistant Jimmy Nicholl and coach Jonatan Johansson were put in charge of the first team for Rangers' final fixtures of the season against Kilmarnock at Ibrox on Saturday, Aberdeen away on Tuesday and Hibernian away next Sunday.
The Dons lead Rangers and Hibs by three points as all three sides compete to finish the season as runners-up to Premiership champions Celtic, managed by Gerrard's former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers.
And Rangers director of football Mark Allen said Gerrard "fully understands the demands that come with managing a club of this stature".
Steven Gerrard resmi diumumkan sebagai manajer baru klub Liga Primer Skotlandia Rangers FC, menggantikan Graeme Murty yang mengundurkan diri beberapa waktu lalu.
Ini akan menjadi pekerjaan manajerial pertama Gerrard di level senior setelah dalam satu tahun terakhir menukangi Liverpool U-18. Mantan gelandang timnas Inggris ini dikontrak empat tahun oleh Rangers dan akan mulai bertugas di Ibrox musim depan.
“Saya merasa terhormat bisa menjadi manajer Rangers. Saya memiliki respek tinggi terhadap klub ini, yang memiliki sejarah dan tradisi besar. Saya tak sabar untuk mengawali perjalanan baru ini,” kata Gerrard seperti dikutip di laman resmi Rangers, Jumat (4/5).
#RangersFC are delighted to confirm that Steven Gerrard has agreed to become the new manager of the Club. pic.twitter.com/uUOVnJWI7I — Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) May 4, 2018
