For those of us who are old enough, the current football climate is a little strange. Players we admired have retired and, in some cases, now prowl the touchlines.
Steven Gerrard is the perfect example. Not long ago he was still dominating the midfield for Liverpool, nearly guiding them to a much-coveted Premier League title.
Now, we get to witness him on the sidelines, having taken up the reins at Rangers in an attempt to make his name as a manager.
This week sees his side take on Feyenoord in the Europa League in a meeting that will see him face another player turned manager in Jaap Stam.
And the Rangers boss has admitted, like the rest of us, he finds it a bit odd to be coming up against a player who he was watching on the pitch not long ago.
“The draw was fantastic for us. These are going to be two duels that I’m really looking forward to,” he told De Telegraaf.
“As a player, I thought Jaap was a bear of a defender. We never met when we went out or in other circles, but I have always admired him.
“As a central defender, he actually had everything: good in the air, strong on the ball and physically formidable. It’s kind of crazy, actually, how fast everything goes in football.
“One moment I am facing these guys on the football field, and the next moment you are screaming or brawling with each other in the dug-out about something that happens to one of your players.”
Unlike Gerrard, who landed the Rangers relatively quickly after retiring, Stam did not jump straight into management.
Instead, he started life after his playing career as a scout for Manchester United, before joining Zwolle and then Ajax, as assistant coach then manager of the reserve team.
His first real stint as a boss came at Reading where, after leading them to the playoffs in his first season, he left in the second year after one win in 18 games left the Royals sitting in 20th place in the Championship.
That will have been a tough experience for the Dutchman, but Gerrard says he has nothing but respect for Stam’s attempt to cut his teeth in English football.
“He has taken the trouble to move back to England and to work as a manager here,” he added.
“I respect that. I have also watched his Reading team quite often, which is why I have a good idea of how he makes his teams play football.”
