Steven Gerrard named new Aston Villa boss 24 hours after being pictured arriving in London for talks
STEVEN GERRARD has been appointed new Aston Villa boss - 24 hours after he was seen arriving in London for talks.
The Liverpool legend was an incredible success north of the border with Rangers, romping home to the Scottish Premiership title last season.
And his Premier League return was made official on Thursday by Aston Villa, who sacked Dean Smith over the weekend.
A video was shared by on Twitter on Wednesday showing the 41-year-old arriving in London for talks.
Gerrard wheeled a small black suitcase off the train, holding a suit carrier in the other hand.
Birmingham Live's Villa correspondent that the deal was 'all but done' at that point.
The Villans lost their fifth match in a row at Southampton on Friday night and sit 15th in the Premier League table, just two points above the relegation zone.
Lifelong fan Smith took over at Villa Park in October 2018 and earned promotion via the play-offs in his first season.
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He then kept the club in the Premier League for two seasons and reached the 2020 Carabao Cup final.
But Smith struggled to get his team finding form this season following the £100million sale of star man Jack Grealish.
Villa chief executive Christian Purslow, who previously worked with Gerrard at Anfield, had been engaged in a 'period of intense back channelling and extensive background checks' since axing Smith, according to the Daily Record.
I think for Steven Gerrard it's the perfect club.
Gabriel Agbonlahor
Gerrard still had over two years left on his Rangers contract but a compensation package between £2m and £3m has been drawn up.
Gerrard himself said he was 'open to the idea’ of a Premier League return, with former teammates Jamie Carragher and Ashley Cole deeming it an opportunity he can’t turn down.
Former Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor told talkSPORT: "I think for Steven Gerrard it's the perfect club, it gets him to the Premier League, managing in the Premier League."
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