Steven Gerrard given advice over Derby County job as ex-Liverpool star weighs in.

Steven Gerrard has been advised to consider Derby County or Wrexham as possible destinations when he decides to return to football management. Former Liverpool and England striker Emile Heskey believes his old team-mate could benefit from taking charge of an ambitious Championship club, building a successful project and restoring his managerial reputation.

Gerrard has been without a managerial position since leaving Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq last year. The former England captain previously managed Rangers and Aston Villa after bringing his distinguished playing career to an end.

Now aged 46, Gerrard has been working as a pundit for The Overlap while waiting for the right opportunity to return to the dugout. Wrexham have already been linked with him, but Heskey believes Derby County should also be considered if the club’s managerial position becomes available.

Steven Gerrard has been tipped to take over at Derby if the job becomes available(Image: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Heskey believes Gerrard should consider the Championship

Speaking to Eldorado, Heskey discussed where Gerrard could take his next managerial opportunity. The former Liverpool striker admitted that identifying the ideal club was not straightforward, pointing to Frank Lampard’s unexpected success at Coventry City as an example of how different managerial appointments can develop.

Lampard previously enjoyed a successful spell at Derby County in 2019 before moving into other managerial positions. His more recent achievements at Coventry have helped rebuild his reputation and prompted renewed discussion about his potential to manage at a higher level.

Heskey suggested Gerrard could follow a similar route by identifying a club with an ambitious project and helping it progress. Rather than immediately pursuing another high-profile Premier League position, the former Rangers manager could benefit from taking responsibility for a team capable of challenging for promotion.

In Heskey’s view, Wrexham and Derby would both offer interesting opportunities. He would like to see Gerrard take charge of a club in the upper half of the Championship, where there would be realistic ambitions of reaching the Premier League.

Such an appointment could allow Gerrard to demonstrate his managerial qualities, build a competitive team and strengthen his credentials for another major job in the future.

Why a struggling Premier League club could be risky

Heskey also warned Gerrard against accepting a Premier League position simply because the club involved has a recognisable name or appears attractive on paper.

He mentioned Newcastle United, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and Sunderland when discussing potential opportunities. However, he questioned whether moving directly into a struggling top-flight side would necessarily be the best decision for Gerrard’s career.

The former England international believes managers must consider the condition of the squad and the mentality of the players before accepting a position. Taking over a team experiencing poor results can be difficult, particularly when confidence has dropped and players are struggling to perform.

Heskey explained that a manager arriving at a club with approximately 25 unhappy players would face the challenge of rebuilding confidence as well as improving results. Although many struggling teams possess enough individual quality to escape difficult situations, getting that ability out of the squad requires strong management.

For Gerrard, choosing the right environment could therefore be more important than immediately returning to the Premier League.

Lampard provides an example to follow

Lampard’s progress at Coventry was central to Heskey’s argument. His former Derby County spell showed that he was willing to work outside the Premier League, while his achievements with Coventry have helped place him back in conversations about major managerial opportunities.

Heskey believes Gerrard could benefit from taking a comparable approach. A Championship club with promotion ambitions would give him the opportunity to establish a clear project rather than inherit a team already struggling with confidence.

Derby could be an appealing option because Gerrard would be joining a club with ambitions of returning to the top division. Wrexham have also attracted attention because of their growing profile and long-term ambitions.

However, Heskey did not suggest that either appointment was confirmed or that negotiations were taking place. His comments were advice about possible future destinations should the opportunities arise.

Gerrard has no problem managing in the Championship

Gerrard has previously indicated that he would be comfortable accepting a Championship position if the project matched his expectations.

Speaking to Gary Neville about his future, the former Liverpool captain revealed that several clubs had contacted him after his departure from Al-Ettifaq. He explained that some of those approaches came from teams competing in the Championship.

Gerrard made it clear that his reputation as a former elite midfielder would not prevent him from considering a lower division. He insisted that there was no question of feeling too important to manage outside the Premier League.

Instead, his priority would be understanding the people involved, the ambitions of the club and what he would be expected to achieve.

That position appears to support Heskey’s recommendation. Gerrard could be prepared to take a step into the Championship if he believes the opportunity offers the right conditions for success.

Could Derby become Gerrard’s next destination?

For now, Gerrard remains away from management and continues his punditry work while considering his next career move. His previous experience at Rangers, Aston Villa and Al-Ettifaq will undoubtedly influence the opportunities he considers.

Heskey’s comments have placed Derby alongside Wrexham as possible destinations worth considering. Whether either club eventually makes an approach remains uncertain.

The central message from his former team-mate is that Gerrard should prioritise the right project over the attraction of a Premier League job. A successful Championship spell could provide the platform to rebuild his managerial standing and earn another opportunity at the highest level.