🔗 Share this article

Steven Gerrard has been in the spotlight of discussion after Rangers parted ways with Russell Martin on Sunday, while the former manager is set to discuss a possible return with the team's owners.

The decision-makers at Rangers announced that a "comprehensive, thoughtful hiring procedure" is currently underway.

Other candidates are set to be reviewed, but if ex Liverpool and England captain is open to a return spell at the club, is the job as good as his?

The mid-forties manager lately mentioned about “unfinished business” in coaching and revealed he has begun approaching prospective staff for his backroom team.

In a latest audio discussion with Rio Ferdinand, appearing to be recorded prior to Martin's brief tenure concluded, Gerrard expressed he wanted “to be at a team that's set to compete to win because I believe that suits me better”.

He added: “If the right call arrives, the appropriate team, the correct opportunity, and I've assembled my staff, which I plan to have at a future date, I'll take that challenge on because it's part of my nature.”

Performance at Rangers in Initial Period

After gaining knowledge as a academy manager at Liverpool, Gerrard took on his maiden coaching position in the mid-year of 2018.

During three complete seasons at Rangers, he secured just one trophy – however it proved significant.

After finishing 13 and nine points behind their rivals in his initial pair of campaigns, Gerrard guided Rangers to their first top-flight title in a ten years, which just happened to deny their Old Firm rivals an historic tenth consecutive win.

And he did it impressively, with his team unbeaten in the process.

Rangers won all of their home games, scored 92 goals and allowed a mere 13.

The drawback was that it occurred amid of Covid and empty stadiums.

It continues to be Rangers' only title success since 2010-11.

What Was Gerrard's Derby Record Look?

In stark contrast to Martin's disappointing spell, Gerrard hit the ground running at Rangers, remaining 12 games unbeaten until his first visit to Celtic Park.

In his first season the derby results were even, each side securing two home victories, with Rangers having last beaten Celtic in 2012.

Two losses to Celtic came in the next truncated season, after which Rangers securing a victory in the east end of Glasgow for the first time since 2010.

From then on, Gerrard remained undefeated in Old Firm clashes, claiming five more and drawing once.

Rangers came through four rounds of preliminaries to reach the group stage of the Europa League in Gerrard's first season.

In the 2019-20 campaign, they advanced to the elimination stage of the same competition, being eliminated to Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16, with their run ending at the same stage the following season.

Why Did Gerrard Depart Rangers?

Aston Villa came calling in late 2021, paying £4.5m in fees.

He departed Rangers four points ahead of Celtic at the summit of the standings – but their city rivals would recover to win by the same margin.

The attraction of the English top flight is powerful and it could have been viewed as the natural progression on a fairytale return to Anfield at a point when his coaching reputation was high.

“Steven and his backroom staff have ensured that the club is clearly in a stronger position today than it was several seasons ago,” commented at the time Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson.

“We have shared a goal to advance the club, to update our facilities and to make the club win again.”

How Did Gerrard's Record at Villa & Al-Ettifaq?

Gerrard did not last a year at Aston Villa.

Inconsistent results resulted in a 14th-place finish at the end of season 2021-22 before a 3-0 loss at Craven Cottage left them in 17th in October 2022 when he was sacked.

Across 2022, he won just eight of his 31 games, suffering defeat in 15.

He transferred to Saudi Arabia in summer 2023 when he took over at the Saudi club.

His latest role lasted 18 months and he departed with the team placed 12th in the Saudi league, just five points clear of the relegation zone.

“Overall, I have gained valuable experience, and it's been a beneficial journey personally and for my loved ones,” he said in the end of January. “But soccer is uncertain, and at times events don't unfold the way we want.”

These post-Ibrox experiences may give some pause for thought and the man himself might harbor concerns over taking over a struggling squad, but Gerrard probably has the character to manage such a prominent position.

He is the only Rangers boss to have won the championship since the great Walter Smith. That experience could be difficult to overlook for an under-pressure Rangers leadership.