What Insights Can We Take Away from Steven Gerrard's Tenure as Rangers Head Coach?
The former Liverpool captain has been at the center of conversation since Rangers dismissed Russell Martin on Sunday, while the former manager will talk about a potential comeback with the club's owners.
The decision-makers at Rangers have stated that a "thorough, thoughtful recruitment process" is now underway.
Additional names will be considered, but if ex Liverpool and England skipper is willing to a second stint at Ibrox, could the position essentially his?
The mid-forties coach lately mentioned about “unfinished business” in coaching and revealed he has started contacting potential members for his backroom team.
In a latest podcast discussion with Rio Ferdinand, appearing to be recorded before Martin's brief reign ended, Gerrard expressed he desired “to be at a team that's set to challenge to win because I think that suits me more”.
He added: “If the right call comes my way, the right club, the right challenge, and I've assembled my staff, which I plan to have at some point, I'll accept that role because it's part of my nature.”
Performance at Rangers in Initial Period
After gaining experience as a academy manager at Liverpool, Gerrard took on his maiden coaching position in the mid-year of 2018.
During three full campaigns at Ibrox, he secured just one title – but it was a big one.
After finishing nine and 13 points behind their rivals in his initial pair of seasons, Gerrard led Rangers to their first top-flight championship in a ten years, which just happened to prevent their Old Firm rivals an unprecedented 10-in-a-row title.
And he did it impressively, with his team undefeated throughout.
Rangers won all of their home games, netted 92 goals and allowed a only 13.
The downside was that it came amid of Covid and fanless grounds.
It continues to be Rangers' only title success since 2010-11.
What Was Gerrard's Derby Record Look?
In sharp difference to Martin's disappointing spell, Gerrard started strongly at Rangers, remaining 12 games without defeat until his first visit to Parkhead.
In his debut season the derby honours were shared, each side earning two home wins, with Rangers having previously defeated Celtic in 2012.
A pair of defeats to Celtic occurred 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 unbeaten in derbies, winning five more and drawing once.
Rangers came through four stages of preliminaries to reach the main phase of the Europa League in Gerrard's first season.
In 2019-20, they progressed to the elimination stage of the identical tournament, being eliminated 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?
The Birmingham club 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 claw that back to prevail by the same margin.
The attraction of the English top flight is strong and it may have been viewed as the next logical step on a fairytale comeback to Anfield at a time when his coaching reputation was high.
“Steven and his coaching team have ensured that the club is clearly in a stronger position today than it was several seasons ago,” said then Rangers football executive Ross Wilson.
“We have shared a desire to move Rangers forward, to update our infrastructure and to make the club win again.”
What Was Gerrard's Record at Villa & Al-Ettifaq?
Gerrard failed to complete a full season at Aston Villa.
Up and down performances yielded a 14th-place finish at the end of season 2021-22 before a three-goal defeat at Craven Cottage left them in 17th in autumn 2022 when he was dismissed.
During 2022, he secured just eight of his 31 games, suffering defeat in 15.
He moved to Saudi Arabia in July 2023 when he took over at the Saudi club.
His latest role continued for 18 months and he moved on with the club placed 12th in the Saudi Pro League, just five points above the drop zone.
“Overall, I have gained valuable experience, and it's been a positive experience personally and for my family,” he said in the end of January. “But soccer is uncertain, and at times events don't unfold the way we hope.”
Those after Rangers exploits may give certain hesitation and the individual may have doubts over taking over a underperforming team, but Gerrard likely has the personality to handle such a prominent position.
He is the sole Rangers manager to have lifted the championship since the legendary Walter Smith. That achievement could be hard to ignore for an under-pressure Ibrox board.