🔗 Share this article

Steven Gerrard is in the spotlight of conversation since Rangers parted ways with Russell Martin on Sunday, and the ex-coach is set to discuss a potential comeback with the team's leadership.

Those in charge at Rangers announced that a "comprehensive, considered recruitment process" is currently underway.

Other candidates will be considered, but if ex Anfield and Three Lions skipper is willing to a second stint at Ibrox, is the job as good as his?

The 45-year-old manager has recently mentioned about “remaining goals” in coaching and disclosed he has started approaching potential members for his coaching team.

In a latest audio discussion with Rio Ferdinand, appearing to be filmed before Martin's short tenure concluded, Gerrard stated he wanted “to be at a team that's set to compete to win because I believe that suits me more”.

He added: “If the suitable offer arrives, the appropriate team, the right challenge, and I've got my people set, which I will have at some point, I'll take that challenge on because it's in me.”

Performance at Rangers in His First Stint

After gaining experience as a academy manager at Anfield, Gerrard accepted his maiden coaching role in the mid-year of 2018.

During three full campaigns at Ibrox, he secured only a single title – but it proved significant.

After finishing 13 and nine points behind Celtic in his initial pair of seasons, Gerrard guided Rangers to their first premiership championship in a ten years, which coincidentally prevent their Old Firm rivals an unprecedented tenth consecutive title.

And he did it in style, with his team undefeated in the process.

Rangers won all of their domestic games, scored 92 goals and conceded a mere 13.

The drawback was that it came against a backdrop of Covid and empty stadiums.

It remains Rangers' only league triumph since the 2010-11 season.

How Did Gerrard's Derby Record Look?

In sharp difference to Martin's unhappy experience, Gerrard started strongly at Rangers, remaining 12 games unbeaten until his first visit to Celtic Park.

In his first campaign the derby results were shared, each side securing two domestic victories, with Rangers having last beaten Celtic in 2012.

A pair of defeats to Celtic came in the next shortened season, followed by Rangers winning in the eastern part of Glasgow for the first time since 2010.

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

Rangers came through four stages of qualifying to reach the main phase of the Europa League in Gerrard's first season.

In 2019-20, they progressed to the knockout rounds of the identical tournament, losing out to the German side in the round of 16, with their journey concluding at the same stage the following season.

Why Did Gerrard Depart Rangers?

Aston Villa came calling in November 2021, forking out £4.5m in compensation.

He left Rangers four points clear of Celtic at the summit of the table – but their local opponents would recover to prevail by the same margin.

The lure of the Premier League is strong and it could have been seen as the natural progression on a dream return to Liverpool at a time when his managerial stock was at its peak.

“Steven and his backroom staff have made sure that the club is clearly in a better place today than it was three-and-a-half years 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 failed to complete a full season at Aston Villa.

Inconsistent results resulted in a mid-table finish at the conclusion of the 2021-22 campaign before a 3-0 defeat at Craven Cottage placed them 17th in October 2022 when he was sacked.

During 2022, he won only eight of his 31 games, suffering defeat in 15.

He transferred to Saudi Arabia in summer 2023 when he assumed control at the Saudi club.

His most recent job continued for 18 months and he moved on with the club sitting in 12th in the Saudi Pro League, only five points clear of the drop zone.

“Overall, I have gained valuable experience, and it's been a beneficial experience for me and for my loved ones,” he said in late January. “But soccer is unpredictable, and sometimes events don't unfold the way we want.”

These after Rangers experiences may give certain pause for thought and the individual may have concerns over taking over a struggling squad, but Gerrard probably has the character to manage such a prominent position.

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