Queens Park Rangers are set to appoint Michael Beale as their new manager. He was Steven Gerrard’s assistant at Aston Villa.
Beale has been granted permission by Gerrard to leave Villa Park and join the Championship club as a number one.
When Beale and Gerrard were appointed in November, Sky Sports News reports that Villa were well aware of his desire to pursue his own managerial career.
Mark Warburton’s contract with QPR expired at the end of the season, leaving the club without a manager. In February, the club was on the verge of automatic promotion, but they won just three of their final 18 league games, finishing 11th.
Beale, 41, joined Gerrard and Gary McAllister at Rangers in 2018 and helped them win the Scottish Premiership for the first time in ten years.
Beale began coaching at Chelsea’s academy after his playing career ended at the age of 21, where he worked with Tammy Abraham and Dominic Solanke during their rise through the ranks.
He then accepted an offer to join Liverpool’s academy, starting with the U16s before rising through the ranks to become coach of the U23s, where he first began to work alongside Gerrard, who was then coaching the U18s.
Beale joined Brazilian club Sao Paulo in January 2017, learning Portuguese to assist Rogerio Ceni, but the club was sacked six months later.
After being in relegation risk when Gerrard was appointed, Villa finished 14th in the Premier League this season.
