Steven Gerrard has opened up about managing Alfredo Morelos at Rangers (Image: The Overlap/YouTube)
Steven Gerrard named former Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos as the most difficult player to manage. He discussed the taxing period overseeing the controversial Colombian.
Morelos was plagued by disciplinary issues during his spell at Rangers, but proved a vital asset with his goalscoring record, including 17 during the campaign under Gerrardwhen the club secured the Scottish Premiership title. Gerrard revealed he had to move for Kemar Roofe and Jermain Defoe as alternative options because he couldn’t depend on the unpredictable Morelos.
During his time at Rangers, Morelos was shown eight red cards for different incidents. He left the club in 2023, joining Brazilian side Santos, and currently plays for Atletico Nacional in his native Colombia.
Speaking to The Overlap, Gerrard named Morelos as the toughest player he’s managed: “Morelos at Rangers was tough to manage,” he said. “Maverick behaviours. So important to Rangers because he was the goals but he was challenging.
“He’d bend the rules and after he’d scored a brace, you always knew something was sorted in the post-either him being late or some incident. When you’re going into a job, you want to try and set rules and have values of your team and stuff like that.
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Steven Gerrard and Alfredo Morelos (Image: Getty)
“Sometimes you’d have to bite your tongue and turn a blind eye to one or two, it’s just trying to not get caught by the players when you’re doing it. But yeah, he was important to Rangers and I knew he was so important. I knew the time would come where I could get into a place where he’s maybe less as important.
“That’s why I brought Jermain Defoe in. That’s why I brought Kemar Roofe in because when he was having these periods, where he would be challenging or break your rules and your values, Defoe and Kemar Roofe were itching to play and they were as good as him. Jermaine was much better than him at the age but they were the reason why we won the league because their goals in the team and the squad is how we eventually won.”
The Liverpool and England icon shocked Ibrox when he left for Aston Villa just six months after guiding the Light Blues to the Scottish Premiership title. He has confessed that he now regrets his premature departure from Rangers.
He’s admitted, it was too early to leave Rangers, but he emphasised that the Rangers board were not willing to go the extra mile.
Reflecting on his move from Rangers to Villa, he said: “The level was a big jump. Probably didn’t realise at the time when I made that decision.
“In hindsight again, we talk about hindsight, we’d all be great with hindsight, wouldn’t we? Would have stayed at Rangers longer, more experience, stay up there for longer
“So I regret doing it now, sitting here, I didn’t at the time. It was tough.
“Also the conversations with Rangers after we won it, the recruitment and the finance chats that we were having, didn’t feel like Rangers were ready to go again. It was a bit more of a like, ‘oh, let’s settle this and fix that and do that.’
“The promises weren’t as strong as it what I thought they would be. Then the Premier League offer and opportunity comes in, it’s tough. It’s tough to say no to that Villa, a great club. I have nothing bad to say about them.”
Gerrard was in discussions for a sensational return to Rangers earlier this season before the move fell through and Ibrox bosses turned to Danny Rohl.