‘No balls, nothing' – Ex-Rangers stars on Steven Gerrard's brutal and ‘scary' pre-season training regime
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FORMER Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday has pulled the curtain back on the ferocious intensity of Steven Gerrard's training sessions.
The Liverpool legend is the frontrunner to return to Ibrox and become the next Rangers boss.
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Gerrard speaking with Gary McAlister during time at Rangers
Credit: PA
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Andy Halliday in training for Rangers
Credit: Willie Vass - The Sun
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Steven Gerrard and Josh Windass
Credit: Willie Vass - The Sun Glasgow
And if that turns out to be the case, some of the players could be in for a rude awakening come the 23rd of June when they are due to return to pre-season.
Halliday, who played under Gerrard between 2018 and 2020, told the Open Goal podcast: "F***** hell it was hard.
"Five three-minute runs, three times a week.
"Say you've got a 24-man squad, you would get split into three groups.
"I think the top eight if I remember correctly had to run 910 metres in three minutes - which is f****** rapid.
"The middle eight was 870m or 840m, and the bottom eight 810m and [Alfredo] Morelos 500m. He used to plod round!
"You end up getting fit to be fair, Gerrard would get you fit."
Sheffield Wednesday attacker Josh Windass also spoke about his experience of training under the 44-year-old.
He also said he regretted the way his time came to an end at Ibrox before joining Wigan in a deal worth £2.5 million on transfer deadline day.
Windass added: "When we were doing those runs, Gerrard used to stand in the middle with his watch. He didn't say a word.
Rangers hero Andy Halliday explains moment he was sent in from training after telling Pedro Caixinha he'd got Celtic formation wrong
"There was one occasion when he was in the right channel and he whipped one round the defence for me, and I was like, 'oh good ball, gaffer'.
"And he was like, 'I used to do that for [Fernando] Torres lad,'"
He continued: "The runs were scary. You would do them in the morning, you would go to the pitch and there wouldn't be a cone anywhere.
"No balls, nothing, just your runners on."
Both players were full of praise for Michael Beale who was Gerrard's assistant before going on to take the top job himself.
Beale has faced criticism for his managerial record following disappointing spells at Rangers and Sunderland.
But Halliday and Windass lauded his expertise on the training pitch.
Windass said: "He [Gerrard] wasn't a big talker.
"He would come in during a training session and maybe say something to you.
"But Mick would do all the presentations. "
Halliday added: "He's a brilliant coach.
"Personally, I don't think the fans would want it, but I think you would take him back.
"Because he's the first-team coach, he's not coming back as the manager again."
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