STEVEN GERRARD saw the Liverpool players celebrate and knew exactly how they were feeling as they became champions of Europe.

Now the Rangers boss wants to experience the emotions that Jurgen Klopp went through and secure his first silverware as a manager.

Some 14 years on from the proudest and most significant night in his career, Gerrard sat in the stands at the Wanda Metropolitano and beamed as Liverpool reigned once again. The memories of that evening in Istanbul, of that remarkable win against AC Milan, came flooding back to the former Reds captain.

And he revelled in the moment and savoured the sight as Klopp lead his side to victory over Tottenham Hotspur and to a success that will forever be revered at Anfield.

The relationship that Gerrard has with the German isn’t one he takes for granted but it is one that he seeks to make the most of as he grows and improves as a coach and a manager.

His first campaign in the dugout ended empty-handed last season but the sight of silverware gave him a thirst for success as he strives to achieve his own targets this term.

Gerrard said: “I think as a young manager you try and be a sponge from all the top managers when you watch them on the sidelines, watch them do interviews or you meet them.

“It’s no different with Jurgen for me. You try to take in all of the good things from them. He has been very helpful to me.

“A lot of the stuff I will keep private, but any questions or any bit of advice, he helps me out.

“Being there and seeing it, you look at the Liverpool fans. Emotionally it brought back a lot of memories of my own from being a Liverpool player.

“When the dust settles, I am thinking ‘OK, I would love that to be us at Rangers’. I would love to be watching my players celebrate.

“I was looking at Jurgen, looking at his players celebrate, and I would love nothing better than to do that in 12 months’ time, or sooner if we get the opportunity in a few months’ time with the League Cup.”

The focus for Gerrard throughout last season was on bringing success back to Ibrox after he was handed his first managerial job and became Rangers boss.

The 39-year-old has, naturally, always had an eye on events at his former club, though, as Klopp and his side embarked on a remarkable campaign.

Liverpool would just miss out on the Premier League title that Gerrard always coveted on the final day of the season. Just a couple of weeks later, they landed the top prize in European football for a sixth time.

“I loved the night in Madrid for the Champions League final,” Gerrard said. “It was the first time I’ve had the opportunity to do it as a fan.

“I got the invite from Liverpool. I had one to do it for the TV as well but I decided to do it as a supporter and it was brilliant.

“I think it was deserved after the season that Liverpool had and going so close in the Premier League. It was fantastic for everyone and I’ve still got mates in that team.

“I have built a bit of a relationship with Jurgen as well and after going so close to the sixth the time before, I was delighted for him. It was a great experience.”

The last time Liverpool were Champions League winners, it was Gerrard that had the honour of holding the most famous trophy in the game above his head.

In Madrid, it was a former team-mate, a compatriot and a friend as Jordan Henderson had the medal put round his neck and stepped forward to spark the celebrations.

The images and videos of that moment will be reviewed and replayed for years to come, as will those of the touching and emotional scenes that saw Henderson embrace his dad. The pride from father to son was clear. There was plenty from a mentor to the man that was living the same dream that Gerrard did.

“How could I be jealous of Jordan lifting the trophy? He’s my mate,” Gerrard said. “I am tight with Jordan and we played together for many years with Liverpool and England.

“I was delighted for him and it was so deserved, there is no better professional than Jordan.

“You get out of this game what you put in, so if you go on that then he certainly deserves it

“I know his dad quite well as well, along with his mum. They asked me to keep an eye on him when he first rolled up and came into Anfield from Sunderland as a young boy.

“He has got great parents that support him and I know they have had family issues over the last year or so. So, it was fantastic for their family, I’m absolutely delighted for them.”

The Champions League final would be the perfect end to a mixed campaign for Gerrard on a personal and professional level as Liverpool and Rangers missed out on the success both clubs have waited so long for domestically.

There was little respite during the summer for Gerrard and the hard work started some time ago as preparations for the new term were put in place and a handful of transfer deals were done ahead of the training camp in Portugal.

Rangers confirmed this week that season tickets have sold out this summer as around 46,000 fans have signed up to back Gerrard’s side in the coming months.

Gerrard said: “It’s no surprise to me that we’ve sold a record number of season tickets because I have been amongst the fans on numerous occasions before I took the job so I knew the passion and the desire.

“That is a massive part of why I love Rangers. To break records like that, I think it is a compliment to the players and the staff for the job that they have done for the last 12 months.

“The fans will see what they are trying to do, see the progress and they are enjoying the way we are playing.

“And I think they are as upbeat and as confident and as ambitious as we are to make it better over the next 12 months. That is the exciting thing here and why the numbers are at that level.”