Aston Villa sack Steven Gerrard after 11 months in charge | Football News

Steven Gerrard has been sacked as manager of Aston Villa.

The club’s decision was announced shortly after Gerrard’s side suffered a comprehensive 3-0 defeat against Fulham at Craven Cottage – Villa’s sixth defeat in just 11 Premier League games.

A statement released after the match read: Aston Villa Football Club can confirm that Head Coach Steven Gerrard has left the club with immediate effect.

A club spokesman said: “We would like to thank Steven for his hard work and commitment and wish him well for the future.”

The former Liverpool midfielder replaced Dean Smith at Villa Park on November 11, 2021 and lasted less than a year before he became the fourth top-flight manager to lose his job so far this season, following Scott Parker, Thomas Tuchel and Bruno Lage.

Game over for Villa boss Gerrard

Sky Sports’ Dan Sansom:

“It was another dismal day for Aston Villa and Steven Gerrard. A wretched performance and result against Fulham at Craven Cottage left them hovering above the relegation zone on goals scored. Barely 90 minutes after the final whistle, Villa confirmed the head coach’s departure. You got the feeling this was a must-win fixture for Gerrard, who was already under pressure having seen his team lose five of their opening 10 games this season.

“Harrison Reed’s fine strike, Aleksandar Mitrovic’s penalty and a Tyrone Mings own goal gave Fulham a deserved 3-0 victory, but Villa were poor throughout and their night was summed up when Douglas Luiz was sent off for a petulant headbutt in the second half.

“There were loud boos from the travelling fans at half-time and full-time, while chants of ‘Steven Gerrard, get out of our club’ sent a clear and damning message to the Villa board.

‘You know and I know I’m in a difficult position right now,’ the 42-year-old said in his post-match press conference. And so it proved.

“Villa’s wait for a first win since September 16 continues. They will now have a new man in the dugout when the next one eventually arrives.”

Analysis: Writing on the wall for Gerrard after latest backwards step

Sky Sports’ Ron Walker at Craven Cottage:

“Tell me your game plan hasn’t worked without telling me. Steven Gerrard made one change from the encouraging defeat by Chelsea on Sunday, bringing in Jan Bednarek for Matty Cash. Forty-five minutes into this nightmare evening at Craven Cottage, he swapped them back over.

“It was one frank example of a night where nothing went right for Gerrard or his fragile Aston Villa. But in the end it begged one too many questions about where his often rudderless squad were heading after a sixth defeat from 11 in the Premier League this season.

“Villa have lost key figures to injury this season but that does not explain their rot. They had enough about them to produce everything but the final ball against Chelsea on Sunday. At Fulham, they struggled to get out of their own half for long periods.

“Neither is it restricted to this season. Villa have won two of their 11 games this season and two of their final 11 games last season, with Gerrard often clearly struggling to define the style, or formation, of his admittedly unbalanced squad.

“His mood inside what turned out to be his final press conference almost felt resigned to his fate – Gerrard himself would not quit, but even he could not bring himself to explain why he was the man to turn things around.

“Clearly it was not a question Christian Purslow or the Villa board could answer either. By the time the team coach departed Craven Cottage, Gerrard’s future had been sealed, with the man lauded for his incredible unbeaten season at Rangers only 17 months ago left to ponder his next move with his stock considerably lower after this underwhelming spell.”

Aston Villa’s remaining fixtures before the World Cup

Brentford (H) – October 23, 2pm

Newcastle (A) – October 29, 3pm

Manchester United (H) – November 6, 2pm

Manchester United (A) – November 10, 8pm – Carabao Cup third round

Brighton (A) – November 13, 2pm