🔗 Share this article

Steven Gerrard is at the center of conversation since Rangers dismissed Russell Martin on Sunday, and the former manager will talk about a potential return with the team's leadership.

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

Additional names are set to be reviewed, but if ex Liverpool and England skipper is willing to a return spell at Ibrox, could the position essentially his?

The mid-forties coach has recently mentioned about “remaining goals” in management and revealed he has begun contacting prospective members for his backroom team.

In a latest audio interview with Rio Ferdinand, which seemed to be filmed prior to Martin's short tenure ended, Gerrard stated he wanted “to be at a club that's going to challenge to win because I believe that fits me more”.

He continued: “If the right call comes my way, the appropriate team, the right challenge, and I've assembled my staff, which I will have at a future date, I'll take that challenge on because it's part of my nature.”

Performance at Rangers in His First Stint

Having acquired knowledge as a youth development manager at Anfield, Gerrard took on his maiden coaching position in the summer of 2018.

During three full seasons at Ibrox, he won just one trophy – however it was a big one.

After finishing 13 and nine points behind Celtic in his first two campaigns, Gerrard guided Rangers to their maiden top-flight championship in a decade, which coincidentally prevent their Old Firm rivals an unprecedented 10-in-a-row title.

And he did it impressively, with his team undefeated 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 fanless grounds.

It continues to be Rangers' sole league triumph since 2010-11.

What Was Gerrard's Old Firm Record Look?

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

In his debut campaign the Old Firm results were shared, each side earning two home wins, with Rangers having last beaten Celtic in 2012.

Two losses to Celtic came in the next truncated season, followed by Rangers securing a victory in the east end of Glasgow for the initial occasion since 2010.

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

Rangers came through four stages of preliminaries to reach the main phase of the European competition in Gerrard's debut season.

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

Why Did Gerrard Leave Rangers?

Aston Villa made an approach in November 2021, forking out £4.5m in compensation.

He left Rangers with a lead clear of Celtic at the summit of the table – however their city rivals would claw that back to win by the same margin.

The lure of the English top flight is strong and it may have been seen as the natural progression on a dream comeback to Liverpool at a point when his coaching reputation was at its peak.

“Steven and his backroom staff have ensured that the club is undoubtedly in a stronger position today than it was several seasons ago,” commented then Rangers football executive Ross Wilson.

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

How Did Gerrard's Record at Aston Villa and in Saudi Arabia?

Gerrard did not last a full season at Aston Villa.

Inconsistent results resulted in a 14th-place position at the conclusion of the 2021-22 campaign before a three-goal loss at Fulham left them 17th in autumn 2022 when he was sacked.

Across 2022, he secured only eight of his 31 games, losing 15.

He moved to Saudi Arabia in July 2023 when he took over at the Saudi club.

His latest job continued for a year and a half and he moved on with the team placed 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 positive experience for me and for my loved ones,” he remarked in the end of January. “But football is unpredictable, and sometimes events don't unfold the way we want.”

These after Rangers exploits could cause certain pause for thought and the man himself might harbor concerns over taking over a underperforming squad, but Gerrard probably has the character to handle such a high-profile position.

He is the only Rangers manager to have lifted the championship since the great Walter Smith. That achievement might well be hard to ignore for an pressured Rangers leadership.