Do Rafa Benitez's comments explain Steven Gerrard's lack of success as a manager?

Steven Gerrard will forever go down as one of the best footballers ever to grace the field at Anfield. However, the former Liverpool captain's managerial career has failed to live up to expectations.

After retiring from playing, Gerrard embarked on a coaching career that saw him take charge of Rangers in Scotland, where he won the league title in 2021, ending Celtic’s nine-year dominance. However, his subsequent stint at Aston Villa in the Premier League was less successful, leading to his dismissal in 2022.

Gerrard is currently the head coach of Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia, and there doesn't seem to be much clamour from European teams to bring him back to elite football.

Now, former Reds manager Rafa Benitez has shed some light on why that might be.

Gerrard was 'better than Cristiano'

Speaking on The Overlap, Benitez lavished his former player with praise, describing him as the best player he has ever coached, even ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo, whom he briefly managed at Real Madrid. However, Benitez’s praise came with a caveat.

Benitez, who enjoyed a successful six-year tenure at Liverpool, stated: “Stevie is the best player that I have ever coached. When I was in Madrid, I couldn’t say that, but now I can say that.

"It’s very clear, he had everything – what he was missing was the tactical knowledge.”

This admission from Benitez, who is known for his meticulous approach to tactics, hints at a potential reason for Gerrard's difficulties as a manager.

While Gerrard’s playing career was defined by his extraordinary versatility, leadership and technical ability, Benitez’s remarks suggest that he may have lacked the tactical awareness that is crucial in coaching.

Foreign players had better tactical awareness

During their time together at Liverpool, Benitez and Gerrard formed a formidable partnership. Gerrard’s heroics on the pitch were pivotal in some of Liverpool’s most iconic moments, including the 2005 Champions League triumph in Istanbul and the 2006 FA Cup victory.

Despite these successes, Benitez’s comments imply that Gerrard’s tactical understanding may not have been as developed as some of his peers, particularly foreign players who came through different footballing cultures.

Benitez went on to acknowledge the challenges he encountered in finding his best position due to his diverse skill set. The 64-year-old utilised him more often as a right-winger and a second striker than in Gerrard's preferred role in the middle of the park.

“He would get into the box, go at a fullback and do whatever he wanted to do. But he needed to understand the position,” Benitez explained.

Worth £180m in today's market

The Spaniard’s remarks also extended to another Liverpool legend, Jamie Carragher, with Benitez noting that the two players would command astronomical transfer fees in today’s market.

“If you want to buy Gerrard and Carra [now], you pay £200 million, £180m for Gerrard and £20m for Carra!” he joked.

Despite his praise, Benitez’s critique of Gerrard’s tactical knowledge stands out, raising questions about whether the same deficiencies have hampered Gerrard’s managerial career.

While Gerrard’s leadership and on-field intelligence were undeniable, the tactical depth that comes with years of experience in different footballing environments may have been lacking.