Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard was told by Jurgen Klopp there is no room for ego in management as he arrived back at Melwood to embark on his coaching career.
The former midfielder was regarded as one of the greatest English talents of his generation throughout his playing days and hung up his boots in 2016 with a formidable legacy. He returned to Liverpool shortly after his brief stint with LA Galaxy to take up a role with the academy.
Gerrard made rapid progress while working with the youth set-up and subsequently took charge of the Under-18s and Under-19s. The Merseyside native had previously turned down the MK Dons hot seat due to his inexperience but felt he had developed enough to take on the Rangers job ahead of the 2018/19 season, going on to lead the Ibrox club to the Scottish Premiership title three years later.
Gerrard did not take the decision to leave Liverpool's academy lightly as he could still recall Klopp's advice for him upon his return to Liverpool as a coach. The Reds boss is viewed as one of the best managers in the world despite his relatively modest playing career in his native Germany - and pointed out that Gerrard's reputation would count for little as he made his first steps into management.
"That was one of the most important things for me when I decided to become a coach, I wanted to come back to the academy and I wanted to speak to Jurgen Klopp for that bit of advice," Gerrard told the Liverpool Echo. "His advice to me was: 'Don't go in with the name on your back. I've seen so many ex-players who played at a decent level just automatically think that they can become a good coach or a good manager.
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"It's important that you go and do two years with Liverpool's youth teams away from the cameras, go and make mistakes, find out how you want to play, try formations, try tactics. Work out what team of people you need around you because you'll be good in some areas, you won't be good in others and get your team. Then you will know. You'll get the right feeling and then an opportunity will come. And then you can decide what you want to do from there.'
"That is exactly how my journey started. I have not always wanted to do this, it has just fallen into place." Eight months after leading Rangers to domestic glory, Gerrard made a mid-season switch to Aston Villa in November to replace Dean Smith and has been tipped to succeed Klopp in the Anfield hot-seat when the German coach eventually steps aside.
