Ex-Aston Villa caretaker ‘ready’ to be reunited with Steven Gerrard as Rangers edge closer to managerial appointment
Ex-Aston Villa caretaker Gary McAllister is expected to link up with Steven Gerrard and Jermaine Defoe at Ibrox
Former Aston Villa caretaker manager Gary McAllister is reportedly keen to make a return to football for the first time since leaving the West Midlands in 2022.
McAllister worked under Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa and was also a highly valued member of his coaching staff at Rangers during his first stint between 2018 and 2021 - notably helping the team to a league title in his final year while becoming just the fourth team in Scottish football history to finish a league season unbeaten.
The Leeds United legend, who won the final first division title with the Whites as a player, did not head out to the Middle East with Gerrard when he joined Al-Ettifaq, but is thought to be keen on ending his three-year hiatus from the game if the former Liverpool skipper returns to Rangers to replace Russell Martin. Ex-Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland forward Jermaine Defoe is also expected to be part of that same coaching team if the negotiations to bring Gerrard back to Ibrox are successful.
Gary McAllister’s time with Aston Villa
The 57-time Scottish international first joined Aston Villa in September 2010 after accepting an offer from Gérard Houllier to become the club’s assistant manager. McAllister had previously played under Houllier when the Frenchman was in charge of Liverpool and it was hoped that the pair would help steady the ship after Martin O’Neil’s bombshell exit at the start of that season.
After Houllier was rushed to hospital in April 2011, McAllister was made caretaker manager. He did a steady job in his interim stint, winning two, drawing two and losing just one of the remaining matches. He notably recorded back-to-back wins over Arsenal and Liverpool to help his team finish ninth but departed alongside Houllier at the end of the campaign.
McAllister had a spell at Liverpool as a coach under Brendan Rodgers before following Gerrard from Rangers to Aston Villa. He again briefly acted as caretaker boss during Gerrard’s tenure; overseeing a 3-1 defeat to Chelsea when the Liverpudlian tested positive for Covid-19.
The pair left Aston Villa in October 2022, with the club marooned in a relegation battle after a lacklustre start. The club has since gone on to appoint Unai Emery and have enjoyed a tremendous rise in recent seasons.
Gary McAllister and Steven Gerrard reunion mooted
Steven Gerrard is the hot favourite for the Rangers job, and McAllister has hinted that he could be ready to join him if the move goes to plan.
In an interview with Sky Sports, he said: "We had a wonderful time there. We really enjoyed our time there. Steven did an amazing job to get that 55th title.He's always going to be linked with Glasgow Rangers, he loved his time up there. You never know what can happen. You never say never, do you?"
Meanwhile, TEAMtalk reports McAillister ‘would be keen to join Rangers’ if the opportunity presents itself.