STEVEN GERRARD is the surprise bookies’ favourite to become Middlesbrough’s next manager.
The Liverpool legend has been out of work since leaving Al-Ettifaq in January.
He was linked with a return to Rangers but pulled out of the race before Russell Martin was appointed.
Former England team-mate Michael Carrick who was sacked by the Championship club last week.
Gerrard, 45, leads the betting to take over at the Riverside Stadium, ahead of Rob Edwards and Steve Cooper.
However SunSport understands Middlesbrough are not considering the former Three Lions star for the role.
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Meanwhile Marti Cifuentes, placed on gardening leave by QPR last season and linked to the job, is also understood not to be on the shortlist.
A host of candidates have expressed interest in the job and the Championship club have been speaking to several coaches already and assessing their options.
As Sun Sport reported last week, Boro chiefs are keen on the likes of former Nottingham Forest and Leicester manager Steve Cooper, ex-Luton boss Rob Edwards, Gary O’Neil and Sheffield Wednesday’s Danny Rohl.
Gerrard though does appear keen on a return to the UK after an ill-fated spell in the Middle East.
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Gerrard lasted just 18 months at Al-Ettifaq and won 23 of his 59 matches in charge.
That stint came after he was sacked at Aston Villa following a return of two wins in the opening 12 games of the 2022-23 Premier League season.
His best reign came at Rangers, where he oversaw the club’s first league title for nine years in 2021.
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He accumulated 102 points and went unbeaten in the Scottish Premier League, ending Celtic’s period of dominance.
Gerrard won 65 per cent of his games in charge at Ibrox.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
