Which Insights Can We Take Away from Gerrard's Tenure as Rangers Head Coach?
The former Liverpool captain is in the spotlight of discussion after Rangers parted ways with Russell Martin on Sunday, while the former manager will discuss a potential return with the team's owners.
The decision-makers at Ibrox announced that a "comprehensive, considered recruitment procedure" is now underway.
Other candidates will be reviewed, however if the former Anfield and Three Lions captain is open to a return spell at the club, is the job essentially his?
The 45-year-old manager lately spoken about “unfinished business” in management and disclosed he has started approaching prospective members for his backroom team.
In a recent podcast interview with the former defender, appearing to be filmed prior to Martin's short reign ended, Gerrard expressed he desired “to be at a club that's set to compete to win because I believe that fits me better”.
He added: “If the suitable offer comes my way, the appropriate team, 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 part of my nature.”
Gerrard's Record at Rangers in Initial Period
After gaining experience as a academy coach at Liverpool, Gerrard accepted his first managerial position in the summer of 2018.
During three complete seasons at Ibrox, he won only a single title – however it proved significant.
After finishing 13 and nine points after their rivals in his first two seasons, Gerrard led Rangers to their first top-flight championship in a ten years, which coincidentally prevent their Old Firm rivals an unprecedented tenth consecutive title.
And he did it impressively, with his team undefeated in the process.
Rangers triumphed in all of their domestic games, netted 92 goals and allowed a mere 13.
The drawback was that it occurred amid of the pandemic and fanless grounds.
It remains Rangers' sole league triumph since the 2010-11 season.
What Was Gerrard's Derby Record Perform?
In sharp difference to Martin's unhappy experience, Gerrard hit the ground running at Rangers, remaining 12 games unbeaten until his first visit to Celtic Park.
In his debut campaign the derby results were even, each side earning two home wins, with Rangers having previously defeated Celtic in 2012.
Two losses to Celtic occurred in the following truncated 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, claiming five more and drawing once.
Rangers came through four stages of preliminaries to enter the main phase of the European competition in Gerrard's debut season.
In 2019-20, they progressed to the elimination stage of the identical competition, being eliminated to Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16, with their run ending at the identical round the next year.
Why Did Gerrard Depart Rangers?
Aston Villa made an approach in late 2021, paying £4.5m in fees.
He left Rangers four points ahead of Celtic at the summit of the table – but their city rivals would claw that back to win by the identical gap.
The attraction of the Premier League is powerful and it may have been viewed as the natural progression on a dream return to Liverpool at a point 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,” said at the time Rangers football executive Ross Wilson.
“We have shared a desire to move Rangers forward, to update our facilities and to return the team to winning ways.”
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 results resulted in a mid-table position at the conclusion of season 2021-22 before a 3-0 defeat at Craven Cottage left them 17th in autumn 2022 when he was dismissed.
Across 2022, he secured just eight of his 31 games, losing 15.
He moved to Saudi Arabia in July 2023 when he assumed control at the Saudi club.
His latest role lasted a year and a half and he departed with the club sitting in 12th in the Saudi league, just five points above the relegation zone.
“In summary, I have learned a lot, and it's been a positive journey personally and for my family,” he said in the end of January. “But football is uncertain, and sometimes events don't unfold the way we hope.”
These after Rangers experiences could cause certain hesitation and the man himself may have concerns over taking over a underperforming team, but Gerrard likely has the character to manage such a prominent position.
He is the sole Rangers manager to have lifted the championship since the legendary Walter Smith. That achievement might well be difficult to overlook for an under-pressure Ibrox board.