Steven Gerrard to Leeds gets damning response after Premier League promotion – ‘Forget about it’
Steven Gerrard’s stint in Saudi Arabia has come to a close this season. While he’s reportedly hoping to return to a role closer to home, Leeds United has firmly ruled themselves out as an option.
His time in the Middle East marked an unusual chapter in his managerial career. Gerrard faced stiff competition from the four Saudi clubs backed by the Public Investment Fund, yet he still secured notable signings—most prominently, former Liverpool teammates Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum.
However, Henderson’s early exit after just six months appeared to spark concerns at Al-Ettifaq about the club’s attractiveness to high-profile players. As a result, Gerrard was handed a new deal despite underwhelming performances. That arrangement, though, came to an end earlier this year through mutual agreement.
In many ways, his Saudi experience mirrored his struggles at Aston Villa more than the success he found at Rangers. Still, the unique nature of the Saudi Pro League makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. What’s clear is that Gerrard’s next appointment could be pivotal for reviving his ambitions at the highest level.
Fairly or not, Gerrard’s managerial trajectory continues to be compared with that of his former rival, Frank Lampard. Interestingly, Lampard’s resurgence at Coventry, where he’s now on the brink of a Championship playoff berth, might offer Gerrard some hope.
While Coventry’s rise could present a path to the Premier League for Lampard, Gerrard has been tentatively linked with a more immediate route—taking the reins at newly-promoted Leeds United.
Despite Daniel Farke’s success in guiding Leeds back to the top flight, there are reported reservations from the club’s ownership, the 49ers Enterprises, due to his previous Premier League struggles with Norwich. Farke suffered relegation and was sacked during a second attempt to keep Norwich afloat.
Gerrard’s name has surfaced as a possible alternative, though not everyone is convinced. TalkSPORT’s Simon Jordan dismissed the idea outright, saying, “If you’re telling me you’re bringing in Steven Gerrard to manage the situation, forget about it. In no parallel universe does Steven Gerrard merit managing Leeds United into the Premier League.”
While Jordan’s comments may seem overly harsh, it’s not unthinkable that Gerrard could be a contender. His achievements at Rangers—particularly an unbeaten title-winning season that ended Celtic’s dominance—once had him touted as a future Liverpool manager.
That said, considering the disappointing outcomes since, Jordan’s skepticism has some basis. Gerrard has yet to prove he could outperform Farke in keeping Leeds competitive in the Premier League.
Given recent examples like Wayne Rooney’s ill-fated spell at Birmingham under American-backed ownership, anything is possible. Still, while Gerrard may yet carve out a successful managerial career, it’s difficult to argue that Leeds is the ideal next step.
