Steven Gerrard conditions for next job laid out after Middlesbrough hunt and Rangers snub

Steven Gerrard insists he has "unfinished business" in management, but the Liverpool icon has made clear he'll only step back into the hot seat for the perfect opportunity. The 45-year-old has emerged as a potential successor to Rob Edwards at Middlesbrough. Edwards is poised to be announced as Wolves' new head coach just four months after assuming control at the Riverside.

Whilst Boro's hierarchy dismissed Gerrard as a candidate during the summer, fresh reports have once again connected the former Rangers head coach with the vacancy, and he remains prominent amongst bookmakers' favourites. The ex-England international recently opted against a return to Rangers following discussions with the Scottish outfit, but has acknowledged he would "jump at" a particular kind of opportunity.

In conversation with Rio Ferdinand for his last month, Gerrard remarked: "I felt like I had [support] to a tee at Rangers. A lot of coach changes at Aston Villa and over in Saudi that I don't think helped me from a personal point of view."

"I'm now enjoying family time and doing a lot of things that I haven't been able to do.

"But there's a part of me that still feels that there's a bit of unfinished business in terms of wanting to go in and face another couple of exciting challenges.

"But I want a certain type of challenge. If in an ideal world they come available, I'll jump at them. If they don't, I won't go back in.

"I want to be at a team that's going to compete to win because I think that suits me better."

Middlesbrough's proposition to potential managers is compelling - they sit second in the Championship with genuine prospects of returning to the Premier League. Their victory over Birmingham City FC put them two points clear of the play-off chasing pack heading into the international break.

Gerrard has been without a club since departing his position with Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia at the beginning of the year. His previous managerial experience includes a stint at Aston Villa in the Premier League following more than three years in charge at Rangers.

"I think certain jobs and certain clubs would suit my style and the way I like to go about it," Gerrard continued.

"But I've also got time now where I'm not in a rush, where I know the right people that are out there to make me a stronger and a better coach. They're the people I need to find.

"Because if I get the right match with them people around me, I know and I've proved I can be successful as a manager. And that's what I'm working on in the background now.

"But I've had five or six really interesting phone calls since I stopped in Saudi. And I haven't been ready because I haven't got that team set around me. And the timing hasn't been right.

"My daughter's just had a baby. I've just become a granddad. I wasn't ready. I haven't got my staff ready. So unfortunately, them opportunities or them phone calls have come at the wrong time, if you like.

"But if the right call comes my way, the right club, the right challenge, and I've got my people set, which I will have at some point, I'll take that challenge on because it's in me."