What Lessons Should We Learn from Steven Gerrard's Tenure as Rangers Manager?
The former Liverpool captain has been at the center of conversation after Rangers parted ways with Russell Martin on the weekend, while the ex-coach will discuss a potential comeback with the club's owners.
The decision-makers at Ibrox have stated that a "comprehensive, considered recruitment process" is currently underway.
Additional names will be reviewed, however if the former Anfield and Three Lions captain is willing to a second stint at Ibrox, is the job as good as his?
The 45-year-old manager has recently spoken about “unfinished business” in coaching and disclosed he has started contacting prospective members for his backroom team.
In a latest podcast discussion with Rio Ferdinand, which seemed to be recorded prior to Martin's short tenure ended, Gerrard stated he desired “to be at a team that's set to challenge to win because I believe that suits me more”.
He continued: “If the right call arrives, the appropriate team, the correct opportunity, and I've got my people set, which I will have at some point, I'll accept that role because it's in me.”
Performance at Rangers in Initial Period
After gaining knowledge as a academy coach at Anfield, Gerrard took on his first managerial role in the summer of 2018.
During three complete campaigns at Ibrox, he won only a single title – but it proved significant.
Following placements of 13 and nine points behind Celtic in his first two campaigns, Gerrard led Rangers to their maiden premiership title in a ten years, which coincidentally prevent their Old Firm rivals an historic 10-in-a-row title.
And he did it in style, with his team unbeaten in the process.
Rangers won all of their domestic games, netted 92 goals and allowed a only 13.
The downside was that it came amid of the pandemic and empty stadiums.
It remains Rangers' only title success since the 2010-11 season.
What Was Gerrard's Derby Record Perform?
In stark contrast to Martin's unhappy experience, Gerrard hit the ground running at Rangers, going 12 games unbeaten until his first visit to Celtic Park.
In his debut season the Old Firm honours were shared, each side earning two domestic wins, with Rangers having last beaten Celtic in 2012.
A pair of defeats to Celtic came in the following truncated season, after which Rangers winning in the east end of Glasgow for the first time since 2010.
After that, Gerrard stayed unbeaten in derbies, winning five additional and drawing once.
Rangers progressed through four stages of qualifying to reach the group stage of the European competition in Gerrard's first season.
In the 2019-20 campaign, they progressed to the knockout rounds of the same tournament, being eliminated to the German side in the last 16, with their run ending at the same stage the following season.
What Led Gerrard Depart Rangers?
The Birmingham club made an approach in November 2021, forking out £4.5m in compensation.
He departed Rangers with a lead clear of Celtic at the top of the table – but their city rivals would claw that back to win by the same margin.
The attraction of the English top flight is strong and it may have been seen as the natural progression on a fairytale return to Liverpool at a point when his coaching reputation was high.
“Steven and his backroom staff have made sure that the club 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 shared a goal 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 full season at Villa Park.
Up and down performances yielded a mid-table finish at the end of season 2021-22 before a three-goal defeat at Fulham placed them in 17th in autumn 2022 when he was dismissed.
Across 2022, he won only eight of his 31 games, losing 15.
He moved to Saudi Arabia in summer 2023 when he assumed control at Al-Ettifaq.
His latest role continued for 18 months and he departed with the team sitting 12th in the Saudi league, just five points clear of the drop zone.
“Overall, I have learned a lot, and it's been a beneficial experience personally and for my family,” he said in the end of January. “But soccer is unpredictable, and sometimes events don't unfold the way we hope.”
Those post-Ibrox exploits may give certain pause for thought and the man himself might harbor doubts over taking over a struggling team, but Gerrard probably has the character to manage such a high-profile post.
He is the only Rangers boss to have won the championship since the great Walter Smith. That experience might well be hard to ignore for an pressured Ibrox board.