Steven Gerrard has revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson has been on hand to offer him advice and support during his time as Rangers boss.
Gerrard has been voted Manager of the Year by the Scottish Football Writers' Association after leading his side to the Scottish Premiership title.
The Liverpool great, in his third season at Ibrox, secured the Gers’ first top-flight title in 10 years back in March.
The former England international took up his first senior managerial role when he moved to Scotland in 2018 after spending time working at Liverpool’s Academy.
Speaking earlier this week, Ferguson, who grew up a Rangers fan and played for the club, opened up on how he had been impressed by the job Gerrard has done.
He said: “Oh, he’s done magnificent. He really has, both on and off the field. A press interview can lose you your job in management.
“But Steven’s press conferences are fantastic. He’s cool, he’s composed, he gives the right answers. He’s really top because it’s an art.”
Responding to the claims, the Liverpool great explained how he has been able to pick Ferguson's brain during a number of telephone calls.
“I'll let you into a little secret: I've had a couple of conversations with him,” Gerrard said.
“Since I retired we have parked our rivalry up and he gave me time on the phone to bounce a few things off him, a few questions to do with the management up here at Rangers.
“He was fantastic in those conversations. At some point moving forward I'd love the chance to sit down with him and have a coffee.
“He's agreed to that and that's fantastic from his point of view because he doesn't have to give me his time, especially being a rival.
“But I think that goes to show what type of man he is. He's not just the iconic manager we all know.”
Gerrard then continued: “It's very high praise and I'm extremely flattered. He's an iconic figure in the game.
“Through no fault of our own we became big, big rivals at Liverpool and Manchester United, the two biggest clubs in British football.
“We were massive rivals for many years and he’s someone that even though he was a rival I looked up to him immensely because he is such an iconic figure in the game and what he achieved in the game is up there with the very best who have ever lived.”
