Hearts new boy Ben Woodburn has spoken about working under Rangers boss Steven Gerrard while part of the Liverpool under-19s side and admits being made captain by the Anfield icon was something he never expected.
The striker has moved to Tynecastle on a season-long loan deal as he goes into the final year of his Liverpool contract and confessed that getting the armband from a legend such as Gerrard was a ‘special’ moment for him.
Woodburn has “only got good things” to say about the Rangers manager as he looks to kickstart his career in the Scottish capital and force his way back into the Wales reckoning as World Cup qualifying gets underway.
“I had Steven Gerrard as my Under-19 Champions League coach and he made me his captain. It’s special when someone like him does that. He’s a legend, isn’t he? It was a great experience,” Woodburn said [Scotsman].
“He was a great gaffer, to be fair to him. I’ve only got good things to say about him. At the time it was almost like a dream, really. When you’re growing up you never expect Steven Gerrard to give you the armband. I enjoyed it and we had a good team as well, those were good times.”
The Rangers boss was linked with a move for Woodburn shortly after taking the reins at Ibrox but nothing ever came of the reported interest.
The versatile forward should be a really strong addition to the Hearts side in their first season back in the Premiership after last season’s promotion-winning campaign.
Woodburn is likely to make his Jambos debut this afternoon when Hearts take on Dundee United at Tannadice in the Premiership and it could just give Gerrard a glimpse of what he missed out on.
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