'Steven Gerrard sees the game differently!' - Liverpool legend praised by ex-assistant for 'empowering' management style despite being sacked by Al-Ettifaq

The ex-England captain saw his managerial stock soar on the back of leading Rangers to Scottish Premiership title glory. He did, however, take a serious step backwards when returning to the Premier League ranks at Aston Villa.

More struggles were endured during a forgettable stint in the Middle East with Al-Ettifaq, leading to an enforced break from the dugout being taken in. It remains to be seen when and where Gerrard will return to professional football.

Dean Holden, who worked alongside the 44-year-old in Saudi Arabia, believes that Gerrard still has plenty to offer - with important lessons having been passed his way en route to now working in Turkey with Adana Demirspor.

Holden has told the Daily Mail: "My ideal destination is managing at the top level. And I do love an analogy! I had to work my way backwards so I thought going to Saudi Arabia would help that. In every situation, you need tools and because of that, my toolbox is getting bigger and bigger.

"Steven Gerrard sees the game differently, as his assistant I learned so much. He empowered me to be creative and come up with ideas, to challenge him. He’s a really generous guy and I am grateful for the opportunity – I felt like I got five years of experience from him in a year.

"In any other industry, you would pay for the experiences I had. If you were a doctor, you’d pay to go and observe the best brain surgeon in the world. And now in Turkey, it is mad, it’s a brilliant way to test myself. I live at the training ground. I am all in, I wake up and planning, train. I am there to professionalise it, ‘early is on time and on time is late!’

"As for the future, anything is possible. We have a blackboard in our kitchen: aim for the moon, land near the stars. If I don’t get to the top, I don’t, but I believe in my heart that I can manage at the highest level. It might sound egotistical but I believe in myself."

Gerrard has seen a return to Ibrox speculated on, with Rangers currently working under interim boss Barry Ferguson, but various other landing spots have been mooted for a man that reached the very highest level as a Champions League winner in his playing days.