Chris Kamara is surprised Steven Gerrard isn’t hanging up his boots and staying on at Liverpool in a coaching role.
The club confirmed on Friday that the 34-year-old will be leaving Anfield at the end of the season after spending his entire playing career on Merseyside.
A move to America and the MLS looks likely for Gerrard – something which surprises Sky Sports expert Kammy, who thought the former England midfielder would stop playing and learn the coaching ropes under Brendan Rodgers’ guidance.
“He obviously feels the years are clocking up, but why can’t he retire at Liverpool?” he said.
“Kenny Dalglish went on to be a player-manager at the football club and had even more success, then was manager when they called him back again. Ryan Giggs at Manchester United – he’s finished his playing career and he’s now on the coaching staff.
“It would be nice to see Gerrard still involved at the football club and be a part of what it’s all about.
“He’s going to be a manager one day, I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. He’s got football in his blood and he’s read the game so well by playing it. When you listen to him talking about it he knows the game inside out.
“Very surprised but we’re going to have to wait for him to sit down and have a chat – hopefully we can do that on Goals on Sunday before the end of the season – and we can get into his mind over this decision to quit Liverpool and go somewhere else to play his football.”
Rumours are linking Gerrard with a move to the MLS, with LA Galaxy or one of the two New York clubs in talks with the midfielder.
Several players from the Premier League and other top European leagues have made the move across the Atlantic, and Kammy believes while Gerrard may enjoy it, it will be a tough transition.
“Some of the players who have gone over there have enjoyed success – Robbie Keane and Thierry Henry have absolutely loved it,” he said.
“He may have this desire to go to America and play, I don’t know. But I think it will be a massive part of his life missing for a while, because that football club is Steven Gerrard.”
Pay tribute
Gerrard has enjoyed some memorable moments during his lengthy career with Liverpool, including the stunning comeback to win the Champions League in Istanbul in 2005.
This season, however, the midfielder has spent more time on the bench with Rodgers deploying him less often, and despite scrutiny of his individual performances Kammy believes it’s the team that’s not performing as a whole.
“He’s coming to the end of his playing career and he wants to go out on a high,” he said. “Everyone’s been looking at his performances this year and suggesting that he’s not at the level he was, but the team’s not at the level it was. That’s the difference.
“It gives us an opportunity, now he’s announced he’s leaving, to pay tribute to him. He was captain at the club for nearly 12 years – that hardly happens anymore in this day and age.”
The Goals on Sunday presenter refused to weigh in on the debate over whether Gerrard was Liverpool’s greatest player in history, suggesting the Reds fans may have a couple of names higher on the list.
“He’ll come out as the greatest ever midfield player,” he said. “They’ve had some fantastic midfielders, there’s no doubt about that – Graeme Souness was absolutely fantastic.
“If you speak to any Scottish people they’ll tell you Kenny Dalglish is one of the greatest Scottish players ever, and if you speak to any Liverpool fans he’s the king. Whether Stevie can take that throne, only the supporters can decide.”