Jermaine Jenas exclusive - Gerrard and Lampard dare not fail in management

Jermaine Jenas is hoping Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard blaze a trail for a new generation of English managers as they take up their first coaching jobs next season.

Gerrard has taken over as Rangers boss, with Lampard confirmed as the new Derby County manager and former England midfielder Jenas believes two of the finest midfielders England have produced in recent years deserve credit for bucking a trend and taking the plunge as managers.

“It’s great that they are both looking to step into management and we should all wish them well because I would ask what happens next if these two high profile English players don’t quite achieve everything they want as managers,” stated Jenas, speaking at an event to promote BT Sport’s charitable initiative The Supporter’s Club, which has awarded £7m of grants in 2013.

“I have been speaking to Frank on a regular basis when we are working on BT Sport together and his football knowledge is first class, his football brain is first class. I’m sure he has been looking at going into management from the moment he ended his playing career and this is a great challenge for him at Derby.

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“He also has a great humility about him. He knows how much work needed to go in for him to be as great a footballer as he is and I’m sure players will look at that work ethic he has always had and learn from it.

“It’s the same with Gerrard. Respect will always be there for a manager when he comes into a club, but what you crave with guys like Lampard is Gerrard is a chance to tap into their knowledge, their experiences in the game.

“What did they used to do in tough moments? How did they dig their teams out of trouble when they had their backs against the wall? How did they view the big games they won and lost when they looked back on them.

“Those are the factors that would come into my mind if I was a player working with one of those two greats of the game. You have a fountain of knowledge there and it would be great to tap into it. That’s why it is such an exciting time if you are a Rangers or a Derby player.”

Jenas is not tempted to follow Gerrard and Lampard into management as he develops a flourishing media career, but he admits his interviews with some of the biggest names in the game may yet tempt him to try his luck on the touchline.

“Coaching is not an ambition for me at this moment. I have decided to go into the media world since I retired from the game, but never say never,” he added.

“I have spoken to Mauricio Pochettino (Tottenham manager) and Carlo Ancelotti (Napoli boss) about coaching and management and when you speak to guys like that, you can get a bit of a buzz for getting back into the game, but I am quite happy to be doing what I’m doing at the moment.

Jermaine visited Pitshanger FC to mark BT Sport’s The Supporters Club, which is raising £7m for good causes. Watch ‘Jermaine’s Supporters Club’ on June 20 on BT Sport 1 at 9.45pm