Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has opened up about one of the biggest regrets of his football career, admitting that he would have reconsidered his departure from Anfield had he known Jurgen Klopp was about to become the club’s manager.
Gerrard brought his remarkable 17-year Liverpool career to an end in 2015, joining Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy after deciding that his opportunities at Anfield were likely to become increasingly limited. However, with Klopp appointed just months later, the former Reds captain now wonders what might have happened had he stayed a little longer.
Why Gerrard Decided to Leave Liverpool
By the end of the 2014-15 season, Gerrard was approaching his 35th birthday and facing an important decision about the final stages of his playing career.
Liverpool had reportedly offered him a one-year contract extension, but discussions with the coaching staff left him concerned that he would no longer be a regular starter.
Despite his legendary status at the club, Gerrard remained determined to play competitive football regularly rather than accept a reduced role on the sidelines.
Reflecting on the offer, he explained that Liverpool had given him the opportunity to stay for another season, but the possibility of becoming a squad player influenced his decision to leave.
Ultimately, the midfielder chose to begin a new chapter in the United States with LA Galaxy, believing that the move offered him a better opportunity to continue playing regularly.
At the time, there was little indication that Liverpool would soon undergo one of the most significant managerial changes in the club’s modern history.
Gerrard Admits He Would Have Stayed for Klopp
The biggest twist came in October 2015, when Liverpool dismissed Brendan Rodgers and appointed Jurgen Klopp as their new manager.
Klopp would go on to transform the club, leading Liverpool to Champions League glory in 2019 before ending their 30-year wait for a league title in 2020.
Looking back, Gerrard believes knowing about Klopp’s imminent arrival could have changed everything.
The former Liverpool captain admitted that he would have been prepared to accept a reduced role if it meant getting the chance to work under the German and fight for a place in his team.
“If I knew Jurgen was going to come, I would have gambled and stayed and tried to impress Jurgen,” Gerrard explained.
He also acknowledged that, with the benefit of hindsight, he would have made a different decision.
“In hindsight, I would have stayed and took the gamble.”
The comments offer a fascinating glimpse into Gerrard’s thinking at the time. Although he had already established himself as one of Liverpool’s greatest-ever players, the possibility of working with Klopp clearly remains an intriguing missed opportunity.
Could Gerrard Have Played Under Klopp?
Gerrard’s final competitive appearance for Liverpool came in May 2015, several months before Klopp took charge at Anfield.
Had he accepted the contract extension, he could potentially have remained at the club for Klopp’s first season.
However, it is impossible to know what role the German manager would have given him. Gerrard was approaching the end of his playing career, while Klopp was beginning to build a squad capable of competing for major honours.
Even so, Gerrard believes the opportunity to prove himself to the new manager would have been worth the risk.
The Liverpool legend eventually returned to train with the first team during the MLS off-season in November 2015. Klopp welcomed him to work with the squad, although a playing comeback was not possible because Gerrard remained contracted to LA Galaxy.
That brief reunion offered a glimpse of what might have been, but it never developed into a return to competitive action.
Steven Gerrard’s Unmatched Liverpool Legacy
Regardless of his regret, Gerrard’s achievements at Liverpool remain extraordinary.
The former midfielder made 710 appearances for the club, scoring 186 goals and establishing himself as one of the defining players of his generation.
His honours included the Champions League, UEFA Cup, two FA Cups, three League Cups and the Community Shield.
His leadership during Liverpool’s unforgettable 2005 Champions League triumph in Istanbul remains one of the most celebrated moments in the club’s history.
The one major honour that eluded him was the Premier League title. Despite coming agonisingly close on several occasions, Gerrard never lifted the trophy as a Liverpool player.
That absence has remained a significant talking point whenever his career is discussed, particularly given the success Liverpool achieved under Klopp in the years immediately following his departure.
The Liverpool ‘What If?’ That Will Never Be Answered
Gerrard’s admission has reignited one of the most fascinating hypothetical questions surrounding Liverpool’s modern history: what would have happened if he had stayed for one more season?
Would Klopp have found a role for the former captain? Could Gerrard have helped guide the club through the early stages of the German’s rebuild? And might he have eventually experienced the Premier League title success that escaped him as a player?
There are no definitive answers.
What is clear, however, is that Gerrard would have been willing to take the gamble had he known what was coming. His decision to leave was understandable given the circumstances at the time, but Klopp’s subsequent success has inevitably made the timing more significant.
For Liverpool supporters, the thought of Gerrard working under Klopp remains an intriguing possibility. For the club legend himself, it is a decision he now believes he might have approached differently.
His Liverpool legacy remains secure, but his latest reflection reveals that even one of Anfield’s greatest icons has a career decision he wishes he could revisit.
