Jermain Defoe says Rangers boss Steven Gerrard will become a ‘top, top, top manager’

Jermain Defoe is confident that Rangers boss Steven Gerrard will become one of the top managers in the game.

Gerrard is nearing the end of his second season with Ibrox and is already being talked about as the future manager of Liverpool, the club where he became a legend as a player.

The 39-year-old still has a lot of work to do in Glasgow, but recently signed a new contract that will keep him there until 2024.

And Defoe, on loan from Bournemouth’s Rangers, has seen enough to believe he’s going to have great success.

“I have to shout at my current manager, Mr. Gerrard,” said the striker talkSPORT. “He’s going to be a top, top, top manager.

“It’s funny because when I signed for Rangers you obviously had a bit of chatter in the locker room and the guys say I’m friends with the gaffer and stuff like that, but he’s a natural talent.

‘In terms of management, it is still fresh and it is new, but you can see that it has everything, of course.

Defoe (R) says the former Liverpool midfielder (L) has everything a manager needs

“He always says to the players, ‘if you want to talk to me about something, my door is open’

“He is approachable, which is very important as a manager. Sometimes there are things you want to talk about and you may have personal issues and you may have things you want to talk about but feel uncomfortable with the manager.

“But you can talk to him about anything with Steven. He reminds me a bit of Harry Redknapp and Sam Allardyce, where you can just approach them and talk about anything. ‘