THE drive, the character, the swagger made Steven Gerrard the player, the captain and the legend that he was during his illustrious playing career.

And Kevin Thomson reckons those same qualities will be key to the Liverpool icon establishing himself as a manager with Rangers.

On the day that Gerrard was unveiled as boss at Ibrox, chairman Dave King admitted that the 38-year-old ticked many boxes, but not all of them. That, of course, is his lack of experience in the dugout.

Read more: Kevin Thomson: Steven Gerrard must set the standards at Rangers - just like Walter Smith did

Gerrard may have spent recent months coaching within the Liverpool Academy system but life in Light Blue and on the front line will be a new, and very different, challenge for the former England star.

Thomson has also started his coaching career since hanging up his boots and combines his time within his own Academy with a role in the Auchenhowie youth department.

And the former Gers midfielder has backed Gerrard to make the switch to first team management seamlessly as he attempts to hit the ground running this summer.

He said: “For me, I believe in myself and I think it is an easier transition for me to potentially get a job tomorrow than it is taking the kids.

“It is hard to coach grassroots kids that can’t kick a ball, it genuinely is. The difficulty of being a manager at the top is being able to handle the dressing room, demanding that respect, but he will get that anyway.

“What you are used to as players, taking first team players is the norm. I reckon he will believe in himself and that taking the 18s and taking the step back a bit is a bit different to what he has been used to his whole life compared to what he is going to be used to now.

“I think he will relish the challenge that he is going to face being the number one.

“It’s a big first job for him, but that’s great for me to see as a young coach. Things are changing, aren’t they? Frank Lampard just got a job, so did Joey Barton, so people are coming out of the game and being given opportunities.

Read more: Former Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson eyes first managerial role with Livingston​

“When you become a top player, you believe in yourself. People might think that is arrogant or you are too big for your boots, but if we don’t believe in ourselves, then no-one else will.

“He will need to believe in himself, stick his chest out like he did through his whole playing career. I’d do the same as a manager and I don’t think he’ll see anything any different as a manager than he did as a player.

“The only difference is that if he played well as a player and the team got beat he wouldn’t get criticised, whereas if they team loses it will be on his head now.”

Gerrard became a hugely influential figure during his playing career as he led by example for club and country and won domestic honours and the Champions League in 2005.

His move from Anfield to Ibrox is a risk for both Gerrard and Rangers. There is plenty to be gained, but also plenty that could be lost.

For Thomson, though, the attraction is mutual. Now, only time will tell if the gamble will pay off for Gerrard and the Ibrox board in the coming weeks and months.

He said: “I think the biggest thing in the transition from being a top player to trying to be a top manager is that even though you can set things around the place, you dictate training and how you play and what players you bring in, you can’t make them play for you.

“When you are stood at the side, it is a different ball game to being on the pitch and being able to influence things first hand.

“That will be a transition for him because every time I see him in the paper he looks as though he could still play. When the hard times come and the disappointments, which they always do, he will want to put the boots back on.

Read more: Kevin Thomson: Steven Gerrard must set the standards at Rangers - just like Walter Smith did

“That is probably the hardest transition from being a player and going into management for the first time. Even though you can affect everything off the pitch, it can be difficult to do it on the pitch from the sidelines.

“The magnitude of the club, he is as recognisable in Glasgow as he is anywhere in the world.

“These things come with a big club like Rangers and he will be used to dealing with that.”

The appointment of Gerrard captured the imagination of Gers fans and made headlines around the world as he put pen-to-paper at Ibrox.

The 38-year-old will go head-to-head with former Anfield boss Brendan Rodgers in the coming months as he looks to hit the ground running on the other side of the white line.

And Thomson admits there is a feelgood factor around the club ahead of the new campaign.

He said: “It is not often a Scottish manager gets 10,000 fans at Ibrox to greet him so that shows the magnitude of his name.

“For a worldwide icon to be up here in the Scottish game is different class. He will be aware that his reputation is not so much on the line, but that he has to win games on a Saturday and the demands that come with a big club.

“The buzz from the fans, around the place, from the players is great and hopefully I will get to work with him as well.

“I just think it is the whole place. As a young coach myself, you want to aspire to be there.

“It is unfortunate for myself that the times I will be there will differ from his and I probably won’t come across him too much. But I will do my best to pick his brains if I ever get the opportunity.

“As a young player at Rangers, you should always have that drive to play in the first team whether Steven Gerrard is the manager or not. That is the kind of culture we try and create.”

*Kevin Thomson was speaking at the Scottish FA UEFA B Licence taking place at Oriam, Edinburgh