Rangers: Steven Gerrard opens up on ‘secret’ chats with Sir Alex Ferguson this season  

Steven Gerrard has revealed his long-standing rivalry with iconic Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson ‘has been parked’ as the 79-year-old has become a mentor for the Rangers boss this season.

Gerrard, who has been named Manager of the Year by the Scottish Football Writers’ Association after guiding Rangers to the title, detailed how he has been able to pick Ferguson’s brain during a number of telephone calls.

‘I’ll let you into a little secret: I’ve had a couple of conversations with him,’ Gerrard explained. 

Steven Gerrard has revealed how Sir Alex Ferguson has been a mentor to him this season

The 79-year-old has spoken to Gerrard on the phone and given him advice on management

‘Since I retired we have parked our rivalry up and he gave me time on the phone to bounce a few things off him, a few questions to do with the management up here at Rangers.

‘He was fantastic in those conversations. At some point moving forward I’d love the chance to sit down with him and have a coffee. He’s agreed to that and that’s fantastic from his point of view because he doesn’t have to give me his time, especially being a rival. But I think that goes to show what type of man he is. He’s not just the iconic manager we all know.’

Gerrard has won plenty of plaudits this season and his players can complete an historic invincible league season against Livingston tonight.

News of Ferguson’s relationship with Gerrard has emerged after the iconic United boss spoke of his admiration for the ex-Liverpool midfielder’s work at Ibrox.

Gerrard (left) has a long-standing affiliation with Liverpool as a player and Ferguson (right) was a major rival but that bitter rivalry is said to have been ‘parked’ as the 79-year-old mentors now

Presented with Manager of the Year by the Scottish Football Writers’ Association, Gerrard addressed Ferguson’s comments on the ‘magnificent’ job he has done in winning the title

Speaking to the Guardian, Ferguson, who had a spell with Rangers as a player, described the job done by Gerrard in dethroning Celtic and preventing them going 10-in-a-row as ‘magnificent’.  

‘He’s done magnificent,’ Ferguson said. ‘He really has, both on and off the field. A press interview can lose you your job in management. But Steven’s press conferences are fantastic. 

‘He’s cool, he’s composed, he gives the right answers. He’s really top because it’s an art.’ 

When quizzed on Ferguson’s high praise, Gerrard admitted he is ‘flattered’ to have been pinpointed by one of ‘the very best who has ever lived’.  

‘It’s very high praise and I’m extremely flattered,’ Gerrard continued as he was presented with his Manager of the Year award. 

Gerrard has won the Scottish Premiership at Rangers, a club Ferguson used to play for 

‘He’s an iconic figure in the game. Through no fault of our own we became big, big rivals at Liverpool and Manchester United, the two biggest clubs in British football.

‘We were massive rivals for many years and he’s someone that even though he was a rival I looked up to him immensely because he is such an iconic figure in the game and what he achieved in the game is up there with the very best who have ever lived.’ 

Gerrard’s focus is now on Livingston and Rangers can finish the season unbeaten with 99 points, a phenomenal effort on route to the title.

Rangers have, prior to facing Livingston, won 30 of their 36 games and have laid down the challenge to Celtic as they languish 23 points adrift.