Paddy Power can reveal the extraordinary news that Steven Gerrard will return to Merseyside in the summer to become the new Liverpool manager while remaining in place as Rangers boss.
In an unprecedented move, our sources north of the border understand that following his success in Scotland, where his Gers side stopped Celtic from winning ten consecutive league titles, the Liverpool legend will return to Anfield to take over from Jurgen Klopp – while also leading the Glasgow giants as they look to defend their Scottish Premiership crown.
It’s believed that Liverpool’s American owners, The Fenway Sports Group, have begged Stevie G to return home to give the club a boost after one of the worst defences of any league title in Premier League history.
But instead of reaching any compensation payment with Rangers, they have said that they’re more than happy for the former England midfielder to dovetail his job at Ibrox alongside the one at Anfield.
An FSG spokesman said: “With the Scottish league being so sh*te, Gerrard would only need to turn up for the four Old Firm games next term,” before adding that they would “cross that bridge when it comes,” if the two sides meet in any domestic cup competition.
When it was suggested that Ibrox fans would also need their gaffer at the helm for an assault on the Champions League, Fenway explained that they had already spoken with Rangers execs about this and as it was inevitable that the club would be eliminated at the preliminary round phase sometime in July, this would not impact on Liverpool’s season.
When we pushed them on whether current coach Jurgen Klopp had been contacted by the German Football Federation to replace Joachim Löw, who will bow out after this summer’s European Championships, we were told; “To be honest, we couldn’t give a toss what he does with his future, all we have explained to Jurgen is that we want him out of his (club owned) house by the end of May at the latest, as we’ve got it earmarked for a certain Norwegian striker who currently plies his trade in the Bundesliga.”
As we understand it, both the Premier League and their Scottish counterparts will come to an agreement to ensure that Old Firm clashes do not fall on the same day as a Liverpool fixture and for the rest of the matches, Gerrard will leave full control to his assistant boss and former Liverpool team-mate Gary McAllister, but will keep a watching brief via video link to his tablet.
Supporters of both clubs who are concerned that Gerrard will find it impossible to follow both matches should they kick-off at the same time needn’t worry, with a club insider at Ibrox confessing that; “Gary Mac can do this job with his eyes closed so we don’t mind if Steven wants to concentrate on matters in England.”
Both Liverpool and Rangers now have to take their case to UEFA as this would be the first time outside of the international arena, that one person has managed two clubs simultaneously.
We have tried to contact European football’s governing body all week to get a soundbite from them as to how they think the case will go, but they are remaining tight-lipped on the subject.
We did manage to track down one UEFA representative who wished to remain anonymous however, who explained that any final decision would not be made without getting the green-light from FIFA who, they told us: “We’re currently pre-occupied in trying to find ways they could prevent the UK and Ireland from winning the right to host the 2030 World Cup.”
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