Steven Gerrard is SACKED as Aston Villa manager
Steven Gerrard is SACKED as Aston Villa manager after fans turned on him in dismal defeat 3-0 at Fulham – with owners prepared to pay one of the highest salaries in the Premier League to land an elite coach like Mauricio Pochettino or Thomas Tuchel
- Aston Villa have sacked Steven Gerrard as their manager after just 11 months
- Villa sit 17th in the Premier League on nine points – just one point above the drop
- Gerrard’s final game was a 3-0 loss away at Fulham on Thursday evening
- The Midlands club’s owners could turn to Mauricio Pochettino or Thomas Tuchel
Steven Gerrard has been sacked by Aston Villa after Thursday night’s hugely damaging defeat at Fulham.
Ten-man Villa were humiliated 3-0 at Craven Cottage, leaving them 17th in the table and the club moved to act just over an hour after full-time.
A brief statement read: ‘Aston Villa football club can confirm that head coach Steven Gerrard has left the club with immediate effect.
‘We would like to thank Steven for his hard work and commitment and wish him well for the future.’
Steven Gerrard has been sacked as Aston Villa manager after a disappointing start this season
He was given his marching orders with his final match being a dismal 3-0 defeat at Fulham
Mauricio Pochettino has been identified by Aston Villa’s owners as the candidate to take over
Their next game is at home to Brentford on Sunday.
Villa fans openly vented their anger at the Liverpool legend on Thursday night.
Sportsmail understands the Midlands club, owned by billionaires Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, have already started to assess possible replacements and are prepared to pay one of the highest salaries in the Premier League to land an elite coach.
The pair are known to admire Mauricio Pochettino, the former Tottenham boss, and have targeted the Argentine in the event of a change.
Former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is another candidate to take over at Villa Park
Pochettino has been out of work since leaving Paris St Germain in July and is recognised as one of Europe’s top coaches.
But the South American would likely need persuading of Villa’s long-term ambitions before considering a move to the Midlands given his desire to compete for top trophies.
Ex-Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel is another high-profile manager who is available and is keen to continue to work in England.
Coaches of this quality would have to think long and hard before joining a potential relegation battle, but Villa are prepared to make the financial investment to tempt them.
Gerrard joined Villa last November in place of Dean Smith, who was sacked after five straight defeats.
Despite significant transfer spending, including the capture of his former Liverpool team-mate Philippe Coutinho, Gerrard was unable to deliver the ‘continuous improvement’ demanded by chief executive Christian Purslow when the former England captain was hired. Having backed Gerrard initially, many Villa fans have long since turned.
Phillipe Coutinho (front) has failed to provide an attacking spark for Villa as they’ve struggled
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