LONDON — Steven Gerrard has been sacked as Aston Villa manager less than two hours after his struggling side suffered a dismal 3-0 defeat at Fulham on Thursday night.
Gerrard paid the price for Villa’s miserable start to the season which saw the club just one place above the Premier League relegation zone.
Villa have won just two of their 11 league games this season and their tame surrender at Craven Cottage was the final straw for the club’s hierarchy as they knocked out Gerrard after just 11 months in charge.
Gerrard and his players had been booed full-time by angry Villa fans after defeat at Fulham extended their winless streak to four games.
“Aston Villa Football Club can confirm that head coach Steven Gerrard has left the club with immediate effect,” read a statement.
“We would like to thank Steven for his hard work and dedication and wish him all the best for the future.”
Gerrard guided Villa to 14th last season after coming from Rangers last November to replace sacked Dean Smith on a three-and-a-half-year contract.
The former Liverpool and England star was expected to take Villa further up the ladder this season but instead leaves the club, which is firmly in a relegation battle.
Gerrard won the Scottish title with Rangers in 2021, ending Celtic’s long period of dominance.
However, he hasn’t been able to build on that impressive work since joining Villa Park and has failed to impress the club’s supporters with lackluster performances.
At his post-Fulham press conference, Gerrard vowed to save his job.
“I am a fighter, I will never give up anything, whether in football or in life. We will see what happens. I will continue to fight unless otherwise stated,” he said.
But just minutes after Gerrard spoke to the media, Villa announced his sacking.
- Editor/ additional report by AFP
