What Insights Can We Learn from Gerrard's Time as Glasgow Rangers Manager?
The former Liverpool captain has been at the center of discussion after Rangers dismissed Russell Martin on Sunday, while the former manager is set to discuss a potential return with the club's leadership.
The decision-makers at Ibrox have stated that a "thorough, considered recruitment process" is currently in progress.
Additional names are set to be reviewed, but if ex Anfield and Three Lions skipper is willing to a second stint at the club, could the position as good as his?
The mid-forties coach has recently spoken about “remaining goals” in coaching and disclosed he has started approaching potential members for his coaching team.
In a latest audio discussion with the former defender, appearing to be recorded prior to Martin's short tenure concluded, Gerrard stated he wanted “to be at a club that's going to compete to win because I think that fits me better”.
He added: “If the suitable offer arrives, the right club, the correct opportunity, and I've got my people set, which I plan to have at some point, I'll accept that role because it's in me.”
Performance at Rangers in His First Stint
After gaining knowledge as a youth development manager at Liverpool, Gerrard took on his first managerial role in the summer of 2018.
Over three complete campaigns at Rangers, he secured only a single trophy – but it was a big one.
After finishing nine and 13 points after their rivals in his initial pair of campaigns, Gerrard led Rangers to their maiden premiership championship in a ten years, which coincidentally deny their Old Firm rivals an unprecedented 10-in-a-row win.
And he did it in style, with his team undefeated in the process.
Rangers triumphed in all of their home games, scored 92 goals and allowed a mere 13.
The drawback was that it occurred against a backdrop of the pandemic and fanless grounds.
It continues to be Rangers' only title success since 2010-11.
How Did Gerrard's Derby Record Look?
In stark contrast to Martin's unhappy experience, Gerrard hit the ground running at Rangers, going 12 games unbeaten until his initial trip to Parkhead.
In his first campaign the derby results were shared, each side securing two domestic victories, with Rangers having last beaten Celtic in 2012.
Two losses to Celtic occurred in the next shortened season, after which Rangers winning in the eastern part of Glasgow for the first time since 2010.
From then on, Gerrard stayed unbeaten in derbies, winning five additional and drawing once.
Rangers progressed 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 progressed to the elimination stage of the identical tournament, losing out to Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16, with their journey concluding at the same stage the next year.
Why Did Gerrard Depart Rangers?
The Birmingham club made an approach in November 2021, paying £4.5m in compensation.
He departed Rangers four points ahead of Celtic at the summit of the table – however their local opponents would claw that back to win by the same margin.
The attraction of the English top flight is powerful and it could have been seen as the natural progression on a fairytale comeback to Liverpool at a time when his managerial stock was high.
“Steven and his coaching team have made sure that the club is clearly in a stronger position today than it was several seasons ago,” said at the time Rangers football executive Ross Wilson.
“We have shared a goal to move Rangers forward, to modernise 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 year at Villa Park.
Up and down performances yielded a mid-table finish at the end of season 2021-22 before a 3-0 defeat at Craven Cottage left them in 17th in autumn 2022 when he was sacked.
During 2022, he secured just eight of his 31 games, suffering defeat in 15.
He transferred to Saudi Arabia in July 2023 when he assumed control at the Saudi club.
His latest role lasted 18 months and he moved on with the team sitting in 12th in the Saudi league, just five points above the relegation zone.
“In summary, I have gained valuable experience, and it's been a positive journey personally and for my family,” he remarked in late January. “But football is unpredictable, and sometimes events don't unfold the way we want.”
Those after Rangers exploits could cause certain pause for thought and the individual might harbor doubts over taking over a struggling team, but Gerrard probably has the personality to manage such a prominent post.
He is the sole Rangers boss to have won the championship since the legendary Walter Smith. That experience could be difficult to overlook for an under-pressure Rangers leadership.