Rafael Benitez: 'Door open for Steven Gerrard at Newcastle United'

By Neil Wilkes, Editor-in-chief | 26 November 2016

Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez says that 'the door is open' for Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard to join him at St James' Park.

Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has said that the 'door is open' for Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard to join him in some capacity.

The 36-year-old officially called time on his playing career earlier this week, hinting that he would look to move into management in the near future.

Gerrard has been heavily linked with a return to Anfield in a coaching capacity, but Benitez, who won the Champions League and the FA Cup with Gerrard during his six-year stint in charge of the Reds, has also offered him the chance to coach at St James' Park.

"I think the club was talking about it having an 'open door policy'," he told reporters. "You are talking about a player with such a high level and who has been so good that he could be a coach anywhere. So I don't think that he will say 'oh, I will go to Newcastle'. Normally, he will say 'I will go to Liverpool'. But if he wants to talk about that, then we can talk. Always, we have space for good people.

"I was really lucky because we got the best from Steven. He scored 104 goals for us when we were there. He was the kind of player where you will not find too many now – a good professional and leader on the pitch. He was working so hard off the pitch and an example for everyone. He played in different positions so he was learning the understanding of the game, maybe he can be a good coach in the future. "If he wants to talk to me about that, we can be in contact, and hopefully I can give him some good ideas.

"We are talking about one of the best payers I ever had. He can be an inspiration to the rest of the team like in Istanbul. Thanks to him, we won the Champions League in Istanbul. Everything was special that day. If he wants to come and talk about how to approach things, I can give my ideas, but he also has a lot of people around who can give him some advice."

Current Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has also offered Gerrard a route into management.