Wrexham star lifts lid on 'scary' Steven Gerrard after links to Ryan Reynolds' club

Steven Gerrard has recently been linked with the Wrexham job and current Red Dragons forward Josh Windass knows exactly what he is like as a boss after a "scary" spell working under him at Rangers. The Liverpool legend took his first step into management at Ibrox in 2018, ending Celtic's domestic dominance by guiding the Gers to their first Scottish Premiership title in a decade in 2021.

Gerrard was a hero on the pitch, and his no-nonsense presence – and occasionally questionable banter – also left a big impression on those who trained under him. Windass had a two-year stint at Rangers between 2016 and 2018, including a brief period under Gerrard.

The 31-year-old, son of Hull City icon Dean Windass, is now plying his trade at Wrexham in the Championship after joining from Sheffield Wednesday during the summer. He has previously opened up on Gerrard's tough demeanour and revealed some of the lines that left his Rangers teammates raising their eyebrows.

Windass shared his insights into the Scouser's managerial style on the podcast in February last year, saying: "He didn't really speak, he was just scary. He just stood there with his arms folded. The coaches did most of the work, he was just like the disciplinarian."

Windass also recounted a moment when Gerrard dropped a cringe-worthy one-liner about his former Liverpool teammate Fernando Torres.

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He said: "The funniest thing I remember was in training in pre-season, genuinely what happened is that I'd pulled off the centre half and he [Gerrard] has whipped one round the back, I've gone through and scored. He comes up to me and he's like 'I used to do that for Torres, lad'."

Recalling a time he took on his boss in a shooting drill, Windass added: "I beat him in a shooting drill and he had Copas [football boots] on because he'd just got the job and I was having a laugh, and he was like, 'You won't beat me when I get my Preds on', and I started laughing and he's blank face staring at me. He's like, 'No seriously, once I get my own boots on you won't'."

Windass departed Ibrox in 2018, initially moving to Wigan Athletic, while Gerrard made a doomed switch to Aston Villa in November 2021. He lasted a mere eleven months at Villa Park before being sacked and replaced by Unai Emery.

Gerrard then took charge of Saudi Pro Leagueoutfit Al-Ettifaq, where he spent 18 months in charge, before leaving by mutual consent in January this year. He has been without a job ever since and was recently tipped as a potential replacement for Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson.

It came after the Welsh club, owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, suffered a difficult start to life in the Championship. Reports emerged suggesting talks had been held by Wrexham's hierarchy over the future of the former Bolton and Sunderland boss.

However, the speculation was later dismissed and branded as an "absolute disgrace" by the club's non-executive director Shaun Harvey. Nevertheless, Manchester United legend Bryan Robson believes Gerrard would be interested in stepping into the hot seat if Parkinson was to be removed.

"He's had a good experience now in Saudi but you know a job like that would definitely interest him if he does want to go back into management," he said. "I think Wrexham at this moment in time should give Phil a bit more time [though] because he has done a great job for them."

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