Steven Gerrard Keeps Coy on Coaching Aspirations and Possible Liverpool Return

With Steven Gerrard back in Los Angeles preparing for his first full season in MLS, the Liverpool legend finds himself doing the media rounds in California. Alongside the standard questions about playing in a new league in a new country, there has also, inevitably, been some Liverpool talk.

Though the club has shown some clear signs of progress under new manager Jürgen Klopp, it hasn’t been all smooth sailing for Gerrard’s former club, with a lengthy injury list contributing to their stumbling league form. Gerrard, though, remains certain that in Klopp, Liverpool have found the right man for the job.

"I’m a huge fan," Gerrard said when asked about Klopp in an interview with CNN earlier this week. "I was a big fan of his at Dortmund and I think we’re very lucky to have him now at Liverpool. I’m hoping with my fingers crossed as a Liverpool fan that he can get us trophies and bring us some success."

There’s a chance to do just that coming up in less than two weeks, with a League Cup final against Manchester City on the horizon. And the two games leading into that see the Reds back in Europe, facing off against unheralded Bundesliga side Augsburg, on the road this Thursday and then back at Anfield the next.

The league may be out of reach this year, and the top four seems as though it is as well, but there’s still plenty to play for and at least two routes to calling this season a successful one. That will be the short term hope, both for Gerrard and most other Liverpool fans around the globe. Longer term is less certain.

For Gerrard, the question will always be if—or maybe just when—he will return to Liverpool. If not as a player, then perhaps in a coaching role. It’s a possibility Gerrard won’t rule out, but for now he’s keeping his focus on playing for another season or two, and if there are longer term plans than that, he isn’t letting on.

"As far as my coaching, my management dreams and aspirations, they’re better parked until I retire," added the former Liverpool captain. "I’m doing my qualifications at the moment but I don’t know if I’ll be good enough and I don’t know what roles might come my way in the future."