Steven Gerrard must opt against easy career path amid Poland job offer

Go on Stevie G, do it.

Steven Gerrard has been out of work for around two months, and he has apparently already been offered the chance to return to management. The Liverpool legend was sacked by Aston Villa in October after a disappointing start, with Unai Emery brought in to replace him - few can doubt the decision at this point, with Emery already working wonders at Villa Park.

The former England midfielder lasted 11 months in all at Villa, and it wasn’t all bad in the West Midlands, but ultimately, he was given too much cash to spend to end up battling the drop zone. Prior to taking the Villa job, Gerrard did some fine work in a near three-year spell with Rangers, winning the Scottish Premiership after years of the Ibrox giants playing second fiddle to Celtic.

There’s no doubting that Gerrard did some fine work in his first job in senior management, which was some first job following some coaching experience in Liverpool’s academy. Talk about a silver spoon.

Players like Gerrard have always been given a leg up into management following such an impressive playing career, and we have seen the same sort of treatment given to Frank Lampard, who started his career with spells at Derby County and Chelsea - not jobs most young managers would get early in their careers. Just look at the career paths of Graham Potter and Steve Cooper, who had to graft to differing degrees to get their first big breaks.

Though, the truth always wins in the end, and we have seen that Gerrard needs to better learn the craft if he is going to succeed at a high level, and the same can probably said of his old nemesis Lampard, who is struggling with Everton.

And as Gerrard eyes a return to management, it has been reported that the Poland FA have offered him the national team role in a delightfully left-field potential career move. Poland are looking for a new manager after parting ways with Czesław Michniewicz, who failed to impress after taking over from former Swansea and QPR boss Paulo Sousa.

The question now becomes whether Gerrard will take a national team job, and not only a national team job, but one very much out of the spotlight. Will he consider grafting away in a low-profile job that only comes into focus every two years for a major tournament? To put it simply: He really should.

The Anfield icon will command much more respect from Premier League clubs if he spends time learning the craft in what could be a thankless job in many ways. Poland have a strong squad, but they are unlikely to challenge for a major title, and so success is not likely to be easily measured beyond qualification for those tournaments.

But that’s the sort of job that commands respect, especially when Gerrard could bide his time and take over a struggling Premier League side or a promotion-challenging Championship club.

This is an opportunity for Gerrard to learn as a coach, as a leader, and to potentially to learn a new language along the way. Sometimes you have to opt for the option that feels right, not easy, and a job like this one ticks that box for the former Villa boss. And even if you put all that aside, it’s a very wise move if he wants to go on to manage England some day.

So, go on Stevie, do it. Take the job.