Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has argued that Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard lacks the credentials to be a Premier League manager.
The former Liverpool captain was appointed Aston Villa boss last week after leading Rangers to their first Scottish Premiership title in a decade last season.
Despite his achievements in Scotland, however, Jordan claimed that Gerrard had been given the Villa job based on his reputation as a player.
Debating with ex-Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy, the 53-year-old compared Gerrard’s managerial career with his former England team-mate Frank Lampard.
“I don’t think he [Gerrard] has the credentials either,” Jordan told Talksport .
“Neither one of these guys would walk through the door if they were Joe Schmo from nowhere, and not Frank Lampard, and not Steven Gerrard.
“They would never ever get these opportunities because they don’t merit them.”
Former Chelsea hero Lampard took over as the club’s manager in 2019, after a single season with Derby County, and he oversaw a top-four finish and reached the FA Cup final before being replaced by Thomas Tuchel.
Gerrard first worked as part of Liverpool’s academy, coaching the club’s U18s side during the 2017/18 season, before moving to Rangers.
Though he helped build a team over three years at Ibrox, culminating in the club remaining unbeaten last season, Jordan dismissed the suggestion that Gerrard was well-prepared to be a Premier League manager.
“Steven Gerrard you know who he is, Frank Lampard you know who he is,” he continued.
“They both talk very well, they’ve both got good backgrounds, they both seem to be very sensible, but neither one of them has been at the top table for winning anything significant.
“I know the SPFL is significant in Scotland, but in real terms it’s [Gerrard’s job at Rangers] not going to compare to the job in hand at Aston Villa.”
Gerrard will take charge of Villa for the first time this Saturday when they welcome Brighton to Villa Park.
