On Thursday, less than two hours after Aston Villa lost 3-0 to Fulham, manager Steven Gerrard was fired (Oct 20). Gerrard was put on the bench because Villa have had a bad start to the season. They are currently in 17th place, which is just one spot above the relegation zone in the Premier League.
The insipid defeat at Craven Cottage was the final straw for the club’s leadership, and Gerrard was fired after only 11 months as Villa manager. Villa has won only two of its eleven league matches this season.
Villa’s fans were irate after the loss to Fulham stretched their winless streak to four games, and they booed Gerrard and the team as they left the field.
A statement from Aston Villa Football Club says that head coach Steven Gerrard has left the club immediately.
We appreciate all of Steven’s efforts and dedication and wish him the best in the future.
After replacing the fired Dean Smith in November of 2016, Gerrard led Villa to a 14th-place finish last season after arriving from Rangers on a three-and-a-half-year contract.
The departure of the ex-Liverpool and England great comes as a huge disappointment, as Villa was hoping that his presence would help them climb the standings this year.
When Gerrard led Rangers to the Scottish championship in 2021, they finally broke Celtic’s long title streak.
Unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to improve upon that remarkable job since arriving at Villa Park, and his performances haven’t been enough to win over the club’s fans.
Gerrard promised to defend his job in his postgame press conference after the Fulham game.
Whether it’s football or life, I will always fight to the finish. And then we’ll see what happens. Until I’m instructed otherwise, I’ll keep on fighting “His words.”
Gerrard talked to the press shortly before Villa revealed he was being replaced.
