Rafa Benitez believes Steven Gerrard has the potential to become a great manager and claimed a move to Glasgow Rangers could be a good choice of club for his former Liverpool captain.

Gerrard was interviewed by Rangers earlier this week and is currently mulling over an offer to replace Graeme Murty at the end of the season. Benitez does not know if he will accept the job, but he does feel he has all the qualities required to succeed in the dugout.

The former England international has been combining his role as a pundit with BT Sport with his job as manager of Liverpool’s Under-18 team, but is expected to move into a senior position when he finds the right club.

It remains to been seen whether Rangers are that club as Gerrard has already turned down an offer from League One side MK Dons since retiring as a player.

Asked about Gerrard’s managerial credentials, Benitez replied: “If you’re asking me if he’s a player, or in this case a manager, who knows the game, then the answer is yes. I think he has the potential to be a great manager.

Benitez has backed his former captain Gerrard to follow his footsteps into management credit: REUTERS

“He was a fantastic player. As a manager, he has the potential. It’s just a question of how he deals with the pressure, with the characters and all these things, but I think he’ll do well.

“His understanding of the game is good. He has had different managers, foreign managers, British managers, so he will have seen different visions, which is important.

“I have been in three different countries as a manager, so when you play in your country, you have the visions of your coaches, the style you play in your country. When you go to another country and everything is different. For him to have different coaches with different ideas, I’m sure has been positive.”

Benitez also argued Gerrard’s decision to work in the Academy at Liverpool was sensible, but he does not think the 37-year-old will stay there and suggested Rangers could be a good fit for him at this stage of his coaching career.

“There are not too many top-class players that can finish as a player, be a manager and be successful straight away,” Benitez explained. “To have these steps in the middle is always good for your experience.

View more!

“He’s been with the Liverpool Under 18s, so I’m sure he likes to teach. If he has decided to go this way, it’s because he enjoys it.

“I’m sure he would like to coach, to manage Liverpool in the future, but because he has this chance now [with Rangers], he has an opportunity to go to another place and learn and see the problems you have as a manager. I’m sure it will be positive for him.”

On his own future as manager of Newcastle United, Benitez was less forthcoming, offering only vague update on the progress made during talks between managing director Lee Charnley as his representatives this week.

“We have had conversations and we’ll have conversations next week,” Benitez explained. “My representatives have talked with Lee Charnley and that’s it. I won’t say anything else about that because I want to concentrate on football and the game. I think if would be good for everybody if it is resolved quickly.”