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Almost an hour after full-time, as Steven Gerrard spoke to the media, his assistant Gary McAllister walked on to the Villa Park pitch and took some family photographs. Later on, Gerrard did the same.
Both men are multiple winners. Gerrard has won the Champions League. McAllister was part of the Leeds team who won the league title in 1992.
So neither man is exactly short of footballing memories. But still this day meant something. Once the dust had settled on a victory sealed spectacularly late in the game, Gerrard in particular was able to ponder the start of what he hopes will be his second coming as an English football personality of significance.
Steven Gerrard's life as Premier League manager got off to the perfect start on Saturday
Many great men play the game in this country. They leave their marks in the grass. But relatively few are fortunate enough or good enough to come round again as managers.
These days, the Premier League’s 20 vacancies are fought over like gold coins. Gerrard, dint of his deeds as a player but also as a rookie coach in Scotland, now has one in his hand.
‘It’s only a start,’ said Gerrard after his team’s 2-0 win. ‘We have to back it up now. But what you saw of me today was authentic. It felt good. This is what I have worked towards.’
Gerrard was specifically referring to his two goal celebrations. The first saw his adrenaline take him almost into the crowd by the side of his dug-out, the second into the arms of one of his staff.
The Aston Villa manager wore his heart on his sleeve as he celebrated with the fans
