Steven Gerrard and John Terry eye vacant Villa role

John Terry and Steven Gerrard are both on the cards of Aston Villa's managerial role, who will they hire? (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

The sacking of Aston Villa head coach Dean Smith has opened the door for the inevitable return to the Premier League for Liverpool legend and Rangers boss Steven Gerrard.

When Carlo Ancelotti left Everton for Real Madrid in the summer, rumors were thick in town of a potential takeover by Gerrard who is a kop through and through but the former England midfielder said the Toffees job was never on his cards.

Steven Gerrard has experienced success so far as a manager, leading Rangers to the Scottish title without losing a single game all season and with Jurgen Klopp not leaving Liverpool soon, Gerrard might be firm favorite to land the Villa Park Job.

Step forward John Terry, a former assistant to Dean Smith at Villa and a premier league veteran, certain to have a fine shout if Gerrard isn’t considered as he left Smith’s backroom staff in the summer to pursue a managerial career.

Terry knows Villa very well and was on their team for three years before leaving in the summer, he finished his playing career with the club and except for talks of first team management experience, Terry might be handed the job for good.

Another name that could surface soon is Roberto Martinez, the stylish Belgian national team boss. He hasn’t really lived up to the billing as manager of the Red Devils considering the amount of quality in the national team, it might be time for him to return to club football.

We’ve had managers who juggle club management with national team but we don’t know if that would in anyway apply to this context, but having managed Wigan and Everton in the past, Aston Villa might not mind his experience.

What are the criteria for whoever comes in at Villa? Expressive football and a respectable top ten finish would do but as it stands, someone to steady the ship and help the team regain winning confidence should be the priority.

Did Jack Grealish’s transfer to Cit affect them? Well they sold their former captain for a whooping £100m and they went on to spend £33m on Emiliano Buendia, £30m on Danny Ings and £27 on Leon Bailey, on paper that is solid reinforcement but injury and form have limited the trio.

Aston Villa won’t reach the heights of last season as it stands but you don’t envy whoever comes in, he has a lot of work to do and first things first, they have to stop conceding early goals.