Former Liverpool great Steven Gerrard had a reputation for imposing hefty fines on his Aston Villa players during his brief tenure as manager. Peter Crouch and Steve Sidwell have shared their astonishment at the financial penalties enforced by Gerrard, which have become a topic of discussion long after he departed Villa Park in 2022. Gerrard is now managing Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League.
On a recent episode of 'That Peter Crouch Podcast', Crouch and Sidwell recalled some of the bizarre rules put in place by Gerrard. Fines included £500 for lateness to training and an eye-watering £200 per minute for missing a team meeting or the coach. The former England international also heavily fined players for wearing incorrect attire on matchdays, costing individuals £100 for each breach. There was also stringent enforcement in the dining room, with players being penalised £100 for leaving items on the table.
Crouch expressed disbelief at Gerrard's minute-based fines, questioning the enormous amount: "What if you forget and don't turn up for two hours?" Sidwell added that there must have been a maximum limit on such penalties, suggesting the fines were "extortionate." Despite their disbelief, both players acknowledged some merit in a rule that required any player sent off during a game to take the team out for a meal within four weeks.
Gerrard's rules also included a unique measure where the player deemed the worst in small-sided games prior to the season opener had to wear a jersey stating "I was the worst trainer." Sidwell revealed the intention behind this regulation was to increase competition and performance during training.
Crouch shared anecdotes from his experience at other clubs, where unusual punishments for underperformance were commonplace, including driving a three-wheeler as a form of ridicule. Sidwell recounted a similar experience at Villa in the mid-2000s, where players received a yellow T-shirt marked with demeaning phrases based on their training performance.
Crouch and Sidwell's recollections offer a glimpse into the strict disciplinary environment Gerrard established at Aston Villa, highlighting a managerial style focused on accountability and competition. These stories continue to resonate among fans and players alike, as discussed in The Mirror.