Former Liverpool defender Gregory Vignal has revealed his ambition of establishing himself as a football manager as he attempts to follow a similar coaching route to that of Steven Gerrard.
Currently serving as boss of Dundee United's under-18s, Vignal was previously responsible for coaching youth teams at Rangers before later being appointed as the manager of the club's women's team.
It was at this time Gerrard was at the helm of the Gers and was able to pass down valuable knowledge to his former Reds team-mate. The pair were both part of Liverpool's treble-winning 2000/01 season and are both now expressing their love for the game on the touchline as opposed to the pitch.
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Discussing his experiences to date as a coach and his aims for the future, the Frenchman told the ECHO: “I came back to Rangers in 2017 and the three years I was there working in the academy with Stevie G. I went back to Marseille and I’m now at Dundee United, finishing my process for the UEFA Diploma and doing my Pro Licence with the French FA. That should be done by April and I hope to be on the bench and get a good job.
“I think he did well because he stopped Celtic’s ten in a row," said Vignal of Gerrard's spell as Rangers boss. "He knew that Rangers was a massive job, which comes with pressure every single day. It was a massive experience and it was a pleasure to work with him, Gary Mac and Michael Beale.
"I had conversations with him about a lot of things: methodology, style of play and tactical aspects. He loves the game and when you have two people who are talking about football and are so passionate about it, you can only speak for a long time. As a manager, you just challenge yourself. You are out of your comfort zone and it is perfect. I hope to also become a manager pretty soon so we are learning and it [pressure] is part of the process."
During his time working in Scotland, Calvin Ramsay is one individual the 41-year-old was well aware of prior to his summer switch to Liverpool. The 19-year-old is yet to make his senior bow for Jurgen Klopp's side, though only began training with the first-team last week due to an injury issue discovered upon his transfer from Aberdeen.
Confident the teenager can prove to be a success at Anfield, the ex-Reds defender said: “He’s a great, young player who has big potential. We have to wait for him but he is a good player. Then you have Andy Robertson on the other side, who has plenty of energy and is a world-class player. I spoke to him last October because I was invited by the Scottish national team under Steve Clarke so I had a chat with him after training."
Tuesday night sees two of Vignal's former sides go head-to-head, having spent the 2004/05 season on loan at Rangers, and he admits to having split loyalties ahead of the Champions League clash at Anfield.
"My heart will be 50/50," he admitted. "I am just so happy for the both of them because it will be a typical British game. It will be a cracking atmosphere and I’m glad for the fans because it will be a great occasion. I will try to go to Ibrox if I can, I just spoke with Ian Rush about going with Liverpool and I will see. Fingers crossed!"
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