By Tom Slatcher

Last month Steven Gerrard announced his retirement from football putting an end to an 18 year career. So what next for the Liverpool legend? Where could Gerrard be plying his trade next and will it be in coaching or punditry?

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Liverpool 

One of the obvious destinations for Gerrard would be back to where it all started, at Liverpool. Gerrard doesn’t hide his love for Liverpool, and the fans certainly don’t hide their love for their former captain, but is a return to Merseyside likely for the scouser? Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has said that Gerrard will always ‘be welcome’ at the club. With Gerrard currently taking his coaching badges, a Liverpool return in a coaching role with the youth sides is a strong possibility and fitting way to start a new chapter where his football career originally began.

Celtic

Could Gerrard’s next destination reconnect him with former manager Brendan Rodgers. Gerrard has previously claimed that he wished the Irishman had managed him earlier in his career. So where better to start his coaching role than with Rogers. However, Gerrard’s last season under Rodgers wasn’t the best, with Gerrard being left out of key games in his final season as a Liverpool player, including his last game against Manchester United at Anfield, which was rumoured to have strained the relationship, meaning a move to Scotland may not be on the cards.

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Newcastle 

Similarly to Celtic, Newcastle has been touted as a possible destination for Gerrard, mainly due to the current manager. This time Rafa Benitez will be hoping to tempt Gerrard to the northeast. With the club flying high in the Championship, Gerrard may learn valuable experience from Benitez. Nevertheless, the bond with Benitez may not be enough to charm Gerrard to the Championship team. If Gerrard chooses coaching, wherever he goes the spotlight will be on him, perhaps a less profile team would mean less pressure.

Television 

Although it would be a shock, Gerrard may opt to dive into the world of television. Gerrard has made a number of appearances as a pundit on BT Sport for Champions League games, so could join up with Rio Ferdinand and Michael Owen as a BT pundit.

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