Steven Gerrard ready for 'schooling' as Rangers' new manager
Steven Gerrard defended his appointment as Rangers manager, insisting inexperience is no issue for him.
The former Liverpool and England captain will take up his first managerial role on June 1 after agreeing a four-year deal at the Glasgow club, and confirmed Gary McAllister will be his assistant at Ibrox.
Gerrard, 37, has been working as an academy coach at Liverpool since April last year, but says he will welcome the "schooling" he will receive in his first taste of management.
"Experience is not an issue for me, it seems to be for other people," said Gerrard. "I respect people's opinions but I can't control that.
"I've been around a big football club, big matches a long time. I've watched and worked under big managers.
"There's only one way to get experience and that's to believe in yourself that you've got the right characteristics to front the challenge.
"One day I will be experienced, I'm confident this journey will help me."
Gerrard will complete his duties at Liverpool before starting a rebuilding project at Rangers in the summer transfer window in order to close the gap on Scottish champions Celtic, managed by Gerrard's former boss Brendan Rodgers.
He said he had not spoken to Rodgers about taking the position, but insisted their relationship is "fine".
Gerrard also refused to discuss specific assurances given over investment he will be given, but chairman Dave King vowed to "narrow the funding gap we have with Celtic" in order to match Gerrard's ambitions.
Rangers director of football Mark Allen was a key figure in persuading Gerrard to take up a manager's role at the club, and the 2005 Champions League winner said the "ball is already rolling" on transfers.
"I don't think it's important who has the final say [on transfers]," said Gerrard. "I think it's about us working together for the benefit of Rangers.
"I've got every confidence that Mark and Andy [Dickson, finance director] can help me identify the players we want. It's about us being in agreement that these are the right players that can improve the team."
King believes the appointment of Gerrard at Rangers can help the global profile of the Scottish game.
"I was trying to think when, over the past few years, at Rangers, or in Scotland, there's been a bigger signing than Gerrard and I can't think of anyone," he said.
"There are Gerrard fans all over the world, I've come across them in China, Thailand, Indonesia - they'll all be watching how he does. It's very good for the profile of Rangers and Scottish football."
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