A former Real Madrid manager once revealed that he considered Steven Gerrard to be the best player he has coached, placing him ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo, despite briefly managing the Portuguese star during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu. The English midfielder was a pivotal figure during the manager’s six-year tenure at Liverpool, which spanned from 2004 to 2010. In that period, the Spanish coach led the Reds in 350 matches, achieving a 55.4% win ratio.
During a discussion in September, the coach expressed his admiration for Gerrard, labeling him the best player he had managed. He stated:
“It’s not about trust. Stevie is the best player that I have ever coached. Because when I was in Madrid, I couldn’t say that! But now I can say that. It’s very clear. He had everything.”
The manager went on to explain:
“What was missing was the tactical knowledge a foreign player has because they play in this position. He was so good, he had so much energy that he could get into the box, go as a full-back, do whatever he wanted to do, but he needed to understand the position.”
He briefly managed Real Madrid, taking charge in June 2015 following Carlo Ancelotti’s first stint. His tenure at the club lasted only 25 games, during which he achieved 17 wins and suffered three losses. Despite this relatively strong record, he was dismissed in January 2016 and replaced by Zinedine Zidane. Later that year, he became the manager of Newcastle United.
As for Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese forward scored 33 free-kicks during his illustrious nine-year career at Real Madrid. Ronaldo joined the Spanish giants in 2009 after leaving Manchester United. His first two free-kicks came against FC Zurich in September of the same year. Over his time at the Santiago Bernabeu, Ronaldo amassed 450 goals in 438 matches and helped the club secure numerous trophies. His final free-kick for Real Madrid was scored against Gremio in the FIFA Club World Cup in December 2017.
Ronaldo eventually departed Real Madrid in 2018 to join Juventus. In total, he has scored 64 free-kicks in his career for both club and country. His most recent came in August of this year, during a match for Al-Nassr against Al Feiha.