20 Jan 2026 15:52:58
Question for discussion. I live in the States and fell in love with Liverpool watching Stevie G. First few games that were viewable for me in the US were the champions league final in Istanbul, with Stevie's header, and then the next year FA Cup final against West Ham where he scored the 35 yard rocket on basically one leg.
I also enjoyed watching Xabi, but Gerrard was just such a beast and workhorse he always stole the spotlight for me.
Why do we think the Xabi has turned out to be so much more successful as manager and coach than Gerrard has? I would say the playing ability was on par or slightly lean towards Stevie. Stevie was such a leader, so it's odd to see such a gulf in class between Xabi and Stevie as managers.
20 Jan 2026 16:48:53
Has he? Both won a title moved to better quality teams after winning the titles only to be sacked. I'd say it's evens tho Xabi went to RM and stevie went to Villa not as big a club but less chance of winning a trophy than RM.
20 Jan 2026 16:52:56
You're into deep psychology here.
But, great players don't always make great managers and vice versa. There are exceptions, but by and large the skills for leadership on the field and management are different.
Look at, for example, Stevie and Wayne - both great players but largely failed managers so far.
Alternatively, Klopp, not a great player, but a great manager.
You do sometimes get both - Ferguson was a decent player as was Cloughie and they both went on to be great managers.
Houllier and Benitez again were not great players.
One theory I have seen from Ed001 in the past is money - Premier League era players earn so much so fast, and are revered by multi millions of fans worldwide given broadcasting rights etc - they haven't the need to put in the hard yards to learn how to be a manager - lower leagues, assistant manager etc. Why would you bother if you don't need to earn?
There are still players in the last 20 years who have that great desire to be a manager, who study the game in depth.
Pep is a prime example - people may say he's had unlimited budget and could he do it in a lower tier, and they are right. But he has been the most successful (arguably) manager of the last 10+ years, doing it in La Liga, the Bundesliga and the premiership.
Ancelotti is another example - top player became top manager - Enrique is another one.
Look at the way Stevie and Xabi played for a bit of a clue. Stevie was all about passion - Roy of the Rovers stuff. Supremely talented but not necessarily a tactician. Xabi was far more cerebral, certainly what I saw of him in his Liverpool years.
I'm not surprised that Xabi has been, imho, more successful so far - winning the Bundesliga against Bayern is a greater achievement than winning the SPL with Rangers. If Stevie had won the SPL with Kilmarnock, then it would be a different matter.
Another more recent player who I believe will be a top manager in years to come is Milner - dedicated, committed and thinks about the game. I could also see Robbo going down that path too.
Anyway, I guess it sums up as there are different skill sets required to be a top player to a top manager, and the money washing around in the game these days means it's less and less likely that former top players have the desire and humility to spend the years learning how to manage at the top level.
20 Jan 2026 16:57:57
John you think winning a league title with Leverkusen is equivalent to winning a league title with Rangers?
20 Jan 2026 16:58:10
Well it's not evens tho. Gerrard won at Rangers and moved to Villa, Xabi at Leverkusen and moved to Madrid.
20 Jan 2026 17:00:36
But it doesn't mean Xabi is guaranteed to be a success but there is very few of the "big name" managers to chose from, means it's always going to be a risk whoever we get.
20 Jan 2026 17:02:30
You can't compare what Xabi did in Germany to what Gerrard did in Scotland. Not even close.
Also, yes, Xabi got sacked from Madrid but only because the players are children that refused to put any effort in. Again, not comparable to what Gerrard did at Villa.
Footballing ability has noting to do with how good they are as coaches or managers. It is a completely different skill set and why most ex-footballers end up as embarrassing pundits rather than managers.
20 Jan 2026 17:19:05
Different skill sets required. The game is littered with great players who just can't, or couldn't, cut it as a manager. Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton, to name just two, and now Gerrard. To be fair, there is still time, but I just can't see it.
I've always viewed the roles as having completely different job descriptions and, to view it simply, I wouldn't get a plumber to come and fix my electrics, though he may be able to.
Reading Zeds reply, he's given a far better answer!
20 Jan 2026 17:42:24
Xabi was a disciplined and intelligent player with a world class ability to read the game and Stevie was a roy of the rovers athlete with excellent footballing ability but not nearly as disciplined. that's a difference in how they played that could equate to Xabi being a better manager. Xabi seems like a highly intelligent person from what i've seen and what his ex managers have said pep and mourinho have said they knew he would be a good coach.
Not sure the same has been said about Stevie. Xabi is Basque and the Basque country seems to produce good coaches the English not so much unfortunately. There's 3 in the prem now Arteta, Emery, iraola. Also comparing winning the league with Rangers and getting sacked with Villa with winning an unbeaten league and Cup double with Leverkusen and getting sacked at Madrid while 4 points off top spot because the players are prima Donna's is a wild take.
20 Jan 2026 18:50:31
Nice reply Zed but take exception to labelling Cloughie as "decent". Certainly streets ahead of Fergusson.
He was a brilliant striker.
20 Jan 2026 19:59:35
Yeah to be fair Ron, I never saw him play live (before my time) but his stats were amazing. IIRC his career was cut short through injury in his mid-20s?
20 Jan 2026 21:04:30
Has Alonso been better than Gerrard as a manager? I suppose Bundesliga, German Cup, German Super Cup vs Scottish Title would tip the scales to Xabi.
Xabi spent three years at Real Sociaded B before moving to Bundesliga. I think that would have helped Xabi prepare for coaching at first team level. But then Stevie spent about as long at Rangers. I think Stevie should have seen out his final season at Rangers before securing a move to the Prem. Coming in mid-season was a bad move imo.
20 Jan 2026 22:21:43
SG, Stevie mad two bad decisions. Left Rangers too early. Then, went to Villa too early and then, went to Saudi for heaven knows why.
Okay, that's three bad decisions.
{Ed025's Note - and smiled once..
20 Jan 2026 23:09:33
Shanks tried to buy Clough but the club would not give him the money and Jack Charlton and Dave Mackay .