- Title: Steven Gerrard named new Aston Villa manager
- Date: 11th November 2021
- Summary: BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - JUNE 17, 2020) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF VILLA PARK, THE HOME STADIUM OF ASTON VILLA ASTON VILLA LOGO ON EXTERIOR WALL EMPTY SEATS VARIOUS OF FLAGS EXTERIOR OF VILLA PARK VARIOUS OF VILLA PARK SIGNS LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - NOVEMBER 25, 2014) (REUTERS) MIDFIELDER STEVEN GERRARD ON THE TRAINING PITCH WITH LIVERPOOL GERRARD TRAINING WITH LIVERPOOL SQUAD LIVERPOOL MANAGER BRENDAN RODGERS MADRID, SPAIN) (FILE - NOVEMBER 3, 2014) (REUTERS) GERRARD TRAINING WITH LIVERPOOL AHEAD OF THEIR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCH AGAINST REAL MADRID ATHENS, GREECE (FILE - JUNE 5, 2001) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) GERRARD WALKING OUT ONTO PITCH FOR ENGLAND TRAINING SESSION WITH TEAM MATE DAVID SEAMAN GERRARD TRAINING WITH ENGLAND THEN ENGLAND MANAGER SVEN GORAN ERIKSSON ISTANBUL, TURKEY (FILE - MAY 23, 2005) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) GERRARD AND THE LIVERPOOL SQUAD ARRIVE FOR THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL AGAINST AC MILAN GERRARD, JOHN ARNE RIISE AND JAMIE CARRAGHER LEAVING AIRPORT, FOLLOWED BY THE AC MILAN TEAM
- Embargoed: 25th November 2021 09:47
- Keywords: Aston Villa Premier League Rangers Steven Gerrard manager
- Location: VARIOUS
- City: VARIOUS
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Europe,Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA004F35NE4F
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Former Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard was confirmed as Aston Villa's new manager on Thursday (November 11) as the 41-year-old ended his three-and-a-half year stint with Rangers.
Gerrard emerged as the favourite for the Villa job after the Midlands' club sacked manager Dean Smith after a run of five successive Premier League defeats.
In a statement, the club's CEO Christian Purslow said Gerrard's "ambitions, philosophy and values" matched the club's.
Gerrard was in charge of Rangers for three-and-a-half years and last season broke arch-rivals Celtic's nine-year domination to lead the Ibrox club to a 55th Scottish title on the back of an unbeaten league campaign.
Villa will be Gerrard's first senior coaching role south of the border and the former midfielder, who played more than 700 games for Liverpool between 1998 and 2015 and won nine trophies at the Anfield club, said he was proud to be appointed.
"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," Gerrard said in a statement.
"In my conversations with (owners) Nassef (Sawiris), Wes (Edens) and the rest of the Board, it was apparent how ambitious their plans are for the club and I am looking forward to helping them achieve their aims."
Villa's recent loss of form has left them in 16th position in the table and only two points off the relegation zone.
While Gerrard has never coached in the Premier League he was in charge of the Liverpool Academy for a while and helped develop some of the club's young talent.
Gerrard's is the first major appointment since the club's American owners took over.
Villa's first match under Gerrard will be at home to Brighton on Nov. 20.
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