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Steven Gerrard believes he brought the curtain down on his glittering Liverpool career too soon.

The Kop legend left Anfield in the summer of 2015 and had a spell with LA Galaxy before retiring in November 2016.

Gerrard decided to part company with the Reds after Brendan Rodgers told him his game time would be reduced. However, the 38-year-old, who made 710 appearances for the club over 17 years, wishes he had stuck around for another season.

“I should have maybe played on for one more year. I regret not doing the extra year just because I miss playing so much,” Gerrard said.

“I speak to a lot of players who’ve come out of the game or players who are coming to the end, they couldn’t wait to get over the line to call it a day.

“I knew towards the end that I was finding it tough letting go - that’s just the way I am. Emotionally, it was tough. When you love your job and you work so hard to achieve your dream job to play for your boyhood team but you know that’s coming to an end....

“If you’ve had enough then it’s probably not tough. But I felt that my Liverpool days came to an end probably a year too soon.

“I went to LA Galaxy in America to come out of Liverpool, just to breathe.

"My wife got pregnant while I was out there in the MLS and it just made sense to come back home. My time in America was the perfect time.

“Eighteen months was fine. It was enough. To go out and have a good think, a good debrief of my career, how it went. I can look back on it and be proud of the good times and reflect on the brutal times I had as well.”

Gerrard quickly made the leap from playing to coaching. He spent 18 months learning his trade at the Liverpool Academy before taking over as manager of Rangers this summer.

Speaking to the Daily Record from their pre-season training camp in Spain, he added: “This is what I’ve craved for since I came out of a playing kit.

“I first had thoughts about becoming a manager when I was around 32/33, when I was still playing.

“I had been speaking to my former managers, bending their ears, asking about their roles. Trying to take things they do and trying to use them as well.

"I'm lucky to get the role at Rangers and so much responsibility so soon. I started my coaching badges in my early 30s and I’m nearly qualified.

“Now it’s just about getting experience, growing and improving. And that’s the reason why I’ve chosen the staff around me as well because I know they’ll be a great support.”

Gerrard has a close bond with fellow Kop icon Sir Kenny Dalglish, whose Glasgow loyalties lie with arch rivals Celtic.

"Kenny is my hero. If you are a young boy growing up in Liverpool he is the man. I called him 'sir' even before he got his knighthood. I am lucky enough to be able to call Kenny my friend," he said.

"I can call him up any time but I know he is a Celtic man so he will probably let the phone ring out now! Seriously, though, our relationship is strong and I am grateful for the many bits of advice he has given me over the years.”