Jürgen: Steven Gerrard's Academy role is wonderful news for football

The Reds confirmed on Friday the revered former midfielder would begin a wide-ranging full-time role within the club’s youth set-up in February, working in the professional development phase of young players at the Kirkby site.

Klopp believes Gerrard’s position will prove mutually beneficial for both the club and the 36-year-old as he begins his journey into coaching.

The manager said: “We had a very, very good, very long talk together. Probably everybody in this room knows better than I do that he’s a wonderful guy.

“For me, it was only important to know what Steven wants, actually, and he said he wants to be a manager in the future. So, that’s cool. I said from my side, everything I can do to help him on this way, to make him the best manager he can be, I’m ready for this and I would like to do it.

“We spoke about different things, different options and now he’s at the Academy. That’s great for us as a club and I think for him it’s perfect because being a manager is a job you have to learn.

“When a person like Steven Gerrard - the player he was, but more the person he is - is ready to make the steps, that’s wonderful news for football. Combining the playing experience with all the things he’ll learn from now on, that’s a bright future and is brilliant.” 

LFCTV GO: Klopp's pre-Southampton press conference