Steven Gerrard admits he misses the Premier League and says he might have stayed in England's top flight with Liverpool if he'd been given the chance to learn the ropes of management at Anfield.
In an interview in the Daily Mail, the longtime Liverpool captain, who now plays for the LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer, spoke candidly about his new life in the United States and what could have been if he remained at Anfield and took on more of a role as a squad player and assistant coach.
"I was surprised a role wasn't mentioned when chief executive Ian Ayre sat down with my agent but maybe it might happen one day," Gerrard said. "I'd have stayed on as a squad player if I'd had the chance to learn more about management or coaching. I left with all the doors still open, but yes, I could still have been at Liverpool now.
"I could have been a good squad player, a good sub, as well as getting management experience that money can't buy. Those ideas were only mentioned to me after I had announced I was leaving."
Friday's Daily Mail back page: New deal for De Gea #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/ZKky0vEH1P
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The former Red believes he still had the ability to compete at the highest level, but that physically he couldn't play every game, even though he didn't enjoy sitting on the sidelines and not knowing if he'd be a starter from game to game.
"I didn't enjoy when Liverpool were in the Champions League, the idea that I might have to miss matches. I struggled to get my head around it.
"Maybe that was selfish of me, but I had gone a long time playing every single game. I might be contradicting myself here, but what would have kept me at Liverpool into this season was the chance of shadowing Brendan Rodgers and his staff as well as playing."
Gerrard said he would have been perfect to replace Colin Pascoe or Mike Marsh following their departures from the club.
"I don't know if I am going to be good enough to be a manager, or a No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 or No. 4. Liverpool replaced coaches Colin Pascoe and Mike Marsh in the summer, so they were looking for a new No. 2, No. 3 or No. 4. I would have been tailor-made to fill one of these roles, as well as making myself available as a squad player."
As for leaving the Premier League for MLS, Gerrard said the fresh challenge has been amazing, but there's still a sense of regret about leaving the club where he'd played his entire career.
"Yeah, I do miss it. I miss everything about it," Gerrard said in regard to the Premier League. "When I switch on the TV and see the stadiums, with 50, 60, 70,000 people -- the aggression, the intensity, the tension. I am jealous.
"I miss the build-up, competing with better players, I miss being Steven Gerrard, Liverpool captain and walking out in front of my people with that pressure and trying to get a result for them.
"Yes, I felt like s--- some days because we lost. I would ask myself, 'Why are you putting yourself through this?' But the contrast is when you beat one of the top sides, the texts are flying in on your phone and you are on top of the world. I miss that.
"I'd like nothing better than being 25 again and with 10 years ahead of me in the Premier League, playing for Liverpool, but I've had my time."