Steven Gerrard backroom staff at Rangers: who could join new Aston Villa head coach at Premier League club

Just a mere three days after sacking manager Dean Smith, Aston Villa announced that they had signed a contract with Steven Gerrard on a two-and-a-half-year deal.

Gerrard had been at Glasgow Rangers FC since 2018 and guided them to their first Scottish Premier League title in 10 years in 2021. The former Liverpool captain had been signed on a four year deal with the Scottish club, meaning that nearly £4million will have to be paid in compensation by Villa to the Glaswegian side.

His success with Rangers was not just thanks to his own coaching and managerial talents but also as a result of an extremely triumphant backroom staff including Gary McAllister, Michael Beale, Tom Culshaw and Jordan Milsom.

These four men first joined forces with Gerrard during his time as the Liverpool Under-19 coach, transferring to Rangers in 2018 and will now look to relocate in Birmingham as they make the move to Aston Villa.

Gary McAllister

McAllister is a former manager himself, having coached Coventry and Leeds and was a former Scotland international.

He first met Gerrard during his two year season with Liverpool between 2000-2002 before returning to the club as an assistant coach in 2015.

Previously to his time in Liverpool, McAllister has had an assistant coaching role with Aston Villa in 2010.

Joining the side under Gerard Houllier, he was then made caretaker manager for Aston Villa after Houllier was rushed to hospital in April 2011.

When Alex McLeish was appointed as Aston Villa’s new permanent manager, Villa announced that McAllister would not return to the club as part of their coaching team.

Michael Beale

Beale is widely known in the football field for his expertise in developing young talent and Villa will no doubt be hoping that these skills will help bring more up and coming players into the side.

Michael Beale has vastly different experience than Gary McAllister as he had previously spent time with Sao Paulo in Brazil on their coaching side. During his time as a youth coach, Beale worked with Carlo Ancelotti, Brendan Rodgers, Jose Mourinho as well as Jurgen Klopp.

While Gerrard did not know Beale much before his appointment at Rangers, Beale has spoken saying he believes his own weaknesses and grey areas are Gerrard’s strengths and vice-versa.

Tom Culshaw

Culshaw and Gerrard have been friends for nearly 30 years as they both rose through the ranks of the footballing world together at Liverpool, whilst also living on the same street in Huyton and attending the same school.

Just before he could have made his big  break-through, Culshaw decided to go into tarmacing but rejoined the footballing world as a coach in Spain.

He carried on this career path when the former England player became the youth squad coach at his boyhood club.

Culshaw has been known at Rangers for his work on set pieces, working his players hard on them. The work of his set pieces have been exceptionally noticeable in matches and Rangers have earned those all important three points as a result of them.

Jordan Milsom

Jordan Milsom is one of Gerrard’s other trusted members of the coaching staff having left Liverpool with the former Liverpool captain to travel to the south side of Glasgow.

Milsom’s experience will prove vital, most notably breaks from play and pre-season training when his players are more susceptible to injuries.

At Liverpool, he was the strength and rehab fitness coach before moving to head of performance at Rangers.

It is currently unknown what his title and role will be at Aston Villa but it seems inconceivable that Gerrard would make such a move without the talent of Jordan Milsom.

Aston Villa’s next match will take place after the international break on Saturday 20 November 2021. Villa Park will host Brighton who currently sit nine places above Gerrard’s new team.

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