Steven Gerrard believes he left Liverpool a season too early

Steven Gerrard believes he could have gone another season for Liverpool and regrets not doing so.

Gerrard departed Liverpool following the 2014-15 season after being told by Brendan Rodgers his minutes on the pitch would be managed if he were to stay.

Gerrard then headed to America to play in the Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy before retiring from football in 2016.

He eventually returned to Merseyside to manage the under-18 Liverpool side, which led to Rangers enquiring about him taking over their first-team as manager.

“I should have maybe played on for one more year. I regret not doing the extra year just because I miss playing so much,” said Gerrard.

“I speak to a lot of players who’ve come out of the game or players who are coming to the end, they couldn’t wait to get over the line to call it a day.

“I knew towards the end that I was finding it tough letting go — that’s just the way I am. Emotionally, it was tough. When you love your job and you work so hard to achieve your dream job to play for your boyhood team but you know that’s coming to an end.

“If you’ve had enough then it’s probably not tough. But I felt that my Liverpool days came to an end probably a year too soon.

“I went to LA Galaxy in America to come out of Liverpool, just to breathe. My wife got pregnant while I was out there in the MLS and it just made sense to come back home. My time in America was the perfect time.

“Eighteen months was fine. It was enough. To go out and have a good think, a good debrief of my career, how it went. I can look back on it and be proud of the good times and reflect on the brutal times I had as well.”

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GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – MAY 04: Steven Gerrard is unveiled as the new manager of Rangers football Club at Ibrox Stadium on May 4, 2018 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

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Gerrard always had an eye on becoming a football manager, and that enquiry from Rangers eventually led to him signing with the club for the upcoming season as first-team manager.

“This is what I’ve craved for since I came out of a playing kit,” said Gerrard.

“I first had thoughts about becoming a manager when I was around 32, 33, when I was still playing.

“I had been speaking to my former managers, bending their ears, asking about their roles. Trying to take things they do and trying to use them as well.

“I’m lucky to get the role at Rangers and so much responsibility so soon. I started my coaching badges in my early 30s and I’m nearly qualified.

“Now it’s just about getting experience, growing and improving. And that’s the reason why I’ve chosen the staff around me as well because I know they’ll be a great support.”

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Source: anfieldhq.com