The parallels were already firmly established with the similar paths that have been travelled by Graeme Souness and Steven Gerrard but could another twist of fate make lightning strike twice?
Both legendary players and icons at Liverpool, they made their way to Ibrox to take their first steps in management and made a significant statement in doing so.
For Souness, the call from Liverpool in 1991 was too good to refuse but the grass wasn’t greener and things didn’t quite work out for him, thereafter. For Gerrard, the calling of Liverpool is what drives him and this proposed move to Villa is seen as a step on the way to that goal.
But is now the right time, why check-out of Glasgow when the job isn’t done and ultimately, will he regret his decision to leave Rangers?
That remains to be seen but let’s hear what Souness had to say recently on talkSport when recalling his career and in particular, that decision he made which resulted in Walter Smith taking up the big job – the rest as the say, is history.
😀 "I love coming back here!"
😢 "I regret taking the job at that time!"
Graeme Souness regrets leaving Rangers to manage Liverpool pic.twitter.com/l8050ZTqGA
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) August 27, 2021
“It was the wrong time for me to take the Liverpool job and certainly the wrong time to leave this football club”, stated Souness, speaking pitchside at Ibrox back in August this year.
He continued, “Looking back, I regret taking it at that time because I believe I would have been offered the Liverpool job at another time, I do.”
Already this season, five managers have lost their jobs in the Premier League – it is common place in that cut-throat environment where time is not afforded to struggling teams regardless of prior performance. Most likely, at least another couple of coaches will bit the dust before the season is out.
This job at Villa isn’t a must have for Gerrard, but for reason that will follow, it appears to be a must have now.
Only time will tell, if he is confirmed in the position at Villa Park, as to how he fares and a story of an incomplete picture at Ibrox.
Will the words of Graeme Souness and hindsight come back to haunt the leader of the 55th title victory? That is something that Steven Gerrard will have to face down.