Steven Gerrard confirmed as new Aston Villa boss as Liverpool legend replaces Dean Smith

Steven Gerrard has made a sensational return to the Premier League after being named Aston Villa head coach.

The England and Liverpool legend is believed to have agreed a three-and-a-half year deal and succeeds Dean Smith, who was sacked on Sunday after a run of five consecutive defeats.

Gerrard led Rangers to the Scottish title last season, ending Celtic’s nine years of dominance and finishing the league campaign undefeated.

The 41-year-old, who won 114 caps for England, spent time as a youth coach in Liverpool’s academy before his three-and-a-half years at Rangers.

Gerrard had dinner with Villa chief executive Cristian Purslow to finalise the deal last night and is set to be become the highest-paid manager in the club’s history, with a salary thought be worth £5million a year.

Villa have paid Rangers compensation of around £4m for Gerrard, his assistant Gary McAllister and coach Michael Beale, with the rest of his backroom staff at Villa still to be decided.

Gerrard is set for an emotional return to Anfield next month, with Liverpool hosting Villa on December 11.

In the meantime, Gerrard will be expected to lift Villa away from the relegation zone, starting with his first match in charge, at home to Brighton on Saturday week.

Villa sold talisman Jack Grealish to Manchester City for £100m in the summer, but owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens nonetheless expected them to kick on this season after reinvesting the money made from the sale of the midfielder on Danny Ings, Leon Bailey and Emiliano Buendia.

Purslow, who was previously Liverpool’s managing director and influential in the deal, said this morning: “Since moving into coaching after his illustrious playing career, Steven began by managing and developing top young players in the Liverpool academy, which is experience we value highly at Aston Villa.

“He then took the brave decision to test himself in the intense and high-pressured environment of the Scottish Old Firm. His subsequent achievement in winning the Premiership title with Rangers really caught our eye, as did his experience in Europe.

“It has been very clear in our discussions with him that Steven’s coaching ambitions, philosophy and values entirely match those of Aston Villa.

“We are excited he has agreed to lead us in the next phase of our ambitious plans as we look to build on the progress made since Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens took over the club in 2018.”

Gerrard said: “Aston Villa is a club with a rich history and tradition in English football and I am immensely proud to become its new head coach.

“In my conversations with Nassef, Wes and the rest of the board, it was apparent how ambitious their plans are for the club and I am looking forward to helping them achieve their aims.”

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