Steven Gerrard's return to Liverpool as youth coach with the club's academy is filled with mixed emotions.
In a wide-ranging interview with the BBC, Gerrard said that he is "excited" but also "nervous and anxious" about his new appointment which will begin in February. A product of the academy himself, Gerrard is prepared to put in the hours to better transition into a coach after retiring from professional football last year.
The Anfield legend, who worked his way through the ranks at the academy 27 years ago, is set to work with academy chief Alex Inglethorpe and deems his move back as "completing the circle", according to the Independent.
It will be part of Gerrard's job to manage a selection of the junior teams while training the academy trainees to help pass on his vast knowledge of elite-level football, and a role with the Football Association also a possibility as they look to aid the development of England's bright young stars, the article added.
The 36-year-old Gerrard had left his boyhood club two years ago to play for LA Galaxy before his retirement and is now working to obtain a UEFA A coaching licence required to manage in the Premier League.
He has long made known his dream to manage Liverpool some day, although he has played down the ambition for now. Gerrard was quoted by the Irish Mirror saying that he has a lot of learning to do, as he is just starting out at the bottom of the ladder.
"I've a lot of dreams and aspirations to be the best I can be in terms of coaching and management - but we'll have to wait and see if I'm going to be good enough," he told the BBC.
Besides his new appointment, Gerrard had commented in the BBC interview that current Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has made him feel welcomed at the club and is happy to have the German as the team's coach.
