Jermain Defoe opens up on ‘difficult’ time at Rangers
Former Rangers forward Jermain Defoe has opened up on a “difficult” time at the club as he explored a new player/ coach role.
Nearing the end of his career at Ibrox, the former England international was made a part of Steven Gerrard’s backroom staff.
The 39-year-old’s future then hung in the balance as Giovanni van Bronckhorst took charge of the Light Blues.
Despite scrapping the role and moving back to Sunderland as a player so soon into his tenure, Defoe raved over the Dutchman.
“I went from a player to player/coach,” said Defore, as per Rio Ferdinand Presents.
“With me it is football, train, recover, get ready for the game. If I am a player/coach, where do I do my coaching?”
He added: “He [Steven Gerrard] said listen the club obviously want to give you that role to help you with the transition, but I understand how difficult it can be. Because I was doing both I wasn’t playing much and I think you switch off a little bit mentally.
“I wasn’t playing for ages, then a new manager came in, Giovanni van Bronckhorst came in, we spoke about asking questions, so I sat down in his office and I knew he played for Barcelona, so I was like ‘talk to me about the philosophy and the training, all that sort of stuff’.
“He was unbelievable, to be honest, very approachable because I know you want to do the coaching, but I just feel like, in terms of playing I had just switched off, it was difficult.”
Legend
Gerrard certainly had the right idea of slowly integrating Defoe into the Rangers coaching staff.
He is a player with bags of experience having played in some of the biggest tournaments in the world whilst scoring a hatful of goals.
However, he was nearing the end of his career in Scotland and understandably was struggling at times.
Defoe is a very self-aware person as he has proved so many times in his career and he would have been ready to make the step to the backroom staff despite the difficulties doing it whilst still playing.
The Gers needed – and still could so with – a proper replacement for Alfredo Morelos. Someone who can come in and effectively relieve the Columbian from his huge workload over the last couple of seasons.
The former Sunderland forward’s playing days are certainly over with the Bears but with his next challenge now his coaching badges, he could return to the club as a coach.
His legendary attacking knowledge could be really useful.
In other Rangers news, Kevin Thomson says that the Bears must replicate their Celtic Park thrashing at Ibrox.