Dubai: Steven Gerrard’s Rangers assistant Gary McAllister says he always knew he would end up working with his former Liverpool teammate on the touchline.
Speaking in Dubai on Thursday, where he is here with Gerrard and fellow former Red Steve McManaman to promote Sunday’s LFC World fan experience at Barasti, McAllister said: “First and foremost it’s a massive complement to be the guy that Steven asked to come along and be his assistant, so I’m very honoured with the fact he asked me.
“I had a feeling — I wouldn’t say it would be the Rangers job — but I had a feeling in my blood that at some point before we actually packed up football, we would work together at some point. And it’s happened at a great club up in Glasgow, who have been through a tough few seasons, but hopefully we can make a difference.
“I’ve been cruising along working for Liverpool as an ambassador doing LFC World and meeting fans all over the world but now I’m right back at the coalface back there working with the players, it’s what I know and I’m delighted to be there with Steve.”
The pair were only appointed by Rangers last Friday but had pre-arranged commitments with Liverpool that forced them to switch Glasgow for Dubai this weekend.
They will return after this to prepare for next season, where they will attempt to bridge a burgeoning gap between Rangers and their Glasgow rivals Celtic.
Ironically the 53-year-old former Scotland captain only played four years in the Scottish league with Motherwell from 1981 to 1985, before heading south to represent Leicester City, Leeds United, Coventry City and Liverpool.
He scored five in 55 appearances at Liverpool alongside Gerrard winning five trophies in a one season stay back in 2001.
While this will be Gerrard’s first proper managerial role having only previously overseen Liverpool’s Under-18s this season, McAllister does at least come in with a bit more experience having player-managed Coventry between 2002 and 2004, followed by brief managerial roles at Leeds and Aston Villa in 2008 and 2011.
