Steven Gerrard has rated Jose Mourinho the best manager in the world and admits he was close to signing for him on a number of occasions.

The Liverpool captain came up against the Chelsea boss for the final time at Stamford Bridge on Sunday before he moves to MLS club LA Galaxy.

Gerrard spoke highly of Mourinho after the 1-1 draw and revealed that he was not too far away from joining the Portuguese at Chelsea, during his first stint, as well as at Inter Milan and Real Madrid only to stay with his beloved Liverpool.

"I've got huge respect for him, he's the best manager in the world for me. I'd have signed for him three times if I wasn't a Liverpool fan," he told Sky Sports.

"He's the reason why my head was turned on a couple of occasions, but he understood why I couldn't do it, and that's because I love Liverpool football club.

"I did [wonder] at the time, but for me I always said to myself if I win a couple of trophies at Liverpool it would an awful lot mean more to me than to win 10 at Chelsea, Real Madrid or Inter Milan.

"It always means more to win it for your people."