Aston Villa correspondent Gregg Evans has revealed the one managerial candidate the club’s hierarchy ‘would seriously like to appoint’.
In the past week, Villa decided the club’s poor run of form was enough to see Dean Smith lose his job as head coach. Of course, the Villans must now pursue a number of options as they seek to hire a replacement.
One name to be linked with the role almost immediately was Rangers boss Steven Gerrard. Evans confirmed the authenticity of this interest while speaking on the 1874 podcast.
Speaking on Tuesday’s edition of the podcast prior to reports suggesting that a move for the former England midfielder was expected within 48 hours, the Athletic reporter explained that Gerrard is seen as a ‘strong candidate’ for the job, though a number of options are being considered.
He said: “It’s my understanding that Steven Gerrard is a strong candidate, somebody they would seriously like to appoint.
“Villa insist, though, that they’re going through an interview process and that multiple candidates are under consideration – that is certainly the case.
“There are a number of candidates that are getting looked at, potentially interviewed in this week ahead.”
TIF Thoughts on Steven Gerrard and Aston Villa…
With Smith out the door on the eve of the international break, Villa do at least have a few weeks to weigh up all their options before domestic football returns.
No doubt, what will most impress them about Gerrard is his league title win with Rangers. He helped the club claim their first Scottish Premier League trophy in a decade while also having ‘the most stubborn defence the Premiership has ever seen’.
Could Steven Gerrard get Villa into Europe?
Yes
No
Beyond the former Liverpool captain, Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl is also being linked with the job and could be one of those other candidates ‘under consideration’.
The Villans could opt for the Saints man simply because he does have that Premier League experience as a manager. Whether or not either coach would take the Villa job, however, is another question altogether.
In other news: ‘Strange’ – Simon Jordan baffled by potential big Sawiris and Edens decision at AVFC