🔗 Share this article

Steven Gerrard is at the center of conversation after Rangers dismissed Russell Martin on Sunday, while the ex-coach will discuss a possible comeback with the club's leadership.

Those in charge at Rangers have stated that a "comprehensive, thoughtful hiring process" is currently in progress.

Additional names will be considered, however if ex Anfield and Three Lions captain is open to a second stint at the club, could the position as good as his?

The 45-year-old coach has recently mentioned about “unfinished business” in coaching and disclosed he has started approaching prospective members for his coaching team.

In a latest audio interview with the former defender, appearing to be filmed before Martin's brief tenure concluded, Gerrard stated he desired “to be at a club that's going to challenge to win because I believe that suits me more”.

He continued: “If the suitable offer comes my way, the right club, the right challenge, and I've assembled my staff, which I will have at some point, I'll take that challenge on because it's in me.”

Gerrard's Record at Rangers in His First Stint

After gaining knowledge as a youth development manager at Anfield, Gerrard took on his first managerial position in the mid-year of 2018.

During three complete campaigns at Rangers, he won only a single trophy – however it proved significant.

Following placements of 13 and nine points after their rivals in his initial pair of campaigns, Gerrard led Rangers to their first top-flight championship in a decade, which coincidentally prevent 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 domestic games, scored 92 goals and allowed a only 13.

The downside was that it came amid of Covid and empty stadiums.

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

What Was Gerrard's Derby Record Perform?

In stark contrast to Martin's disappointing experience, Gerrard hit the ground running at Rangers, going 12 games without defeat until his first visit to Celtic Park.

In his first campaign the Old Firm honours were shared, each side earning two home victories, with Rangers having last beaten Celtic in 2012.

A pair of defeats to Celtic came in the following shortened season, after which Rangers securing a victory in the eastern part of Glasgow for the first time since 2010.

After that, Gerrard stayed unbeaten in derbies, claiming five more and drawing once.

Rangers progressed through four rounds of qualifying to enter the group stage of the European competition in Gerrard's first season.

In 2019-20, they advanced to the knockout rounds of the same tournament, being eliminated to Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16, with their journey ending at the identical round the following season.

Why Did Gerrard Depart Rangers?

The Birmingham club made an approach in late 2021, paying £4.5m in compensation.

He left Rangers with a lead ahead of Celtic at the top of the standings – but their local opponents would recover to win by the identical gap.

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 coaching reputation was at its peak.

“Steven and his coaching team have made sure that the team is clearly in a stronger position today than it was three-and-a-half years ago,” commented then Rangers football executive Ross Wilson.

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

What Was Gerrard's Record at Aston Villa and in Saudi Arabia?

Gerrard failed to complete a year at Villa Park.

Inconsistent performances yielded a 14th-place finish at the end of the 2021-22 campaign before a 3-0 defeat at Craven Cottage placed them 17th in autumn 2022 when he was dismissed.

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

He transferred to Saudi Arabia in July 2023 when he assumed control at Al-Ettifaq.

His latest role continued for a year and a half and he departed with the team sitting in 12th in the Saudi league, only five points above the drop zone.

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

These after Rangers exploits may give certain hesitation and the individual might harbor concerns over taking over a struggling team, but Gerrard probably has the character to handle such a high-profile position.

He is the only Rangers manager to have won the league trophy since the legendary Walter Smith. That experience could be hard to ignore for an pressured Ibrox board.