Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard admitted that he would have signed for Jose Mourinho on three separate occasions if he weren’t a loyal Reds fan.
The 41-year-old former England midfielder spent the majority of his senior playing career at Anfield before his two-season spell in the MLS with LA Galaxy.
During his time at Anfield, Gerrard lifted a Champions League title, UEFA Cup, two FA Cups and three League Cups.
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The Reds hero, who is considered one of the best Premier League midfielders of all time, scored 186 times and registered 150 assists in 710 appearances for Liverpool.
Mourinho described Gerrard as one of his “favourite enemies” and wanted to sign the ex-Liverpool captain during his time at Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid.
Speaking after Chelsea vs Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in 2015, Gerrard admitted that he had “huge respect” for the Special One.
The former England skipper added that Mourinho was the “best manager in the world” and he could have signed for him “three times.”
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Gerrard told Sky Sports: “I’ve got huge respect for him. He’s the best manager in the world for me.
“I’d have signed for him three times if I weren’t a Liverpool fan and Liverpool were in me heart.
“He’s the reason why me head was turned on a couple of occasions, but he understood why I couldn’t do it, and it’s because I love Liverpool Football Club.”
Gerrard was asked if he ever wondered what might have happened if he had followed Mourinho to Inter, Chelsea or Madrid.
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However, the Premier League legend insisted that winning trophies with Liverpool would mean a lot more than winning them at the aforementioned trio of clubs.
Gerrard continued: “I did at the time. But for me, I always said to myself when I sat down with my dad and me brother if I win a couple of trophies at Liverpool, it will mean an awful lot more to me if I win 10 at Chelsea or Inter Milan or Real Madrid.
“It always means more when you win for your people.”
Speaking ahead of the 1-1 draw, former Chelsea boss Mourinho paid tribute to Gerrard by claiming his “dear enemy” made him a “better manager.”
The 59-year-old Portuguese manager told reporters: “Gerrard is for sure one of my favourite enemies and for sure my dear enemy, the one who made me a better manager.
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“To stop him or try to stop him has been very, very difficult. I lost against him, I won, I drew, I was happy, I was sad. I am very sad it’s the last time I play against him.
“I need people like him to make me a better coach. I am sad he is leaving the same as our Frank Lampard, but Frank is a Chelsea legend and it’s a different situation because Steven was always on the other side.
“I tried to bring him to Chelsea, I tried to bring him to Inter, I tried to bring him to Real Madrid but he was always with the enemy. I want to honour him and I hope Stamford Bridge has the same feeling.”
Featured Image Credit: PA/Sky SportsTopics: Jose Mourinho, Liverpool, Steven Gerrard, Premier League, England, Football, Chelsea