What Insights Should We Learn from Steven Gerrard's Time as Rangers Head Coach?
Steven Gerrard has been at the center of conversation after Rangers dismissed Russell Martin on the weekend, and the former manager is set to talk about a possible comeback with the club's leadership.
Those in charge at Rangers announced that a "thorough, thoughtful recruitment procedure" is currently in progress.
Additional names are set to be considered, but if ex Anfield and Three Lions skipper is open to a return spell at the club, could the position as good as his?
The 45-year-old coach lately spoken about “remaining goals” in coaching and revealed he has started contacting prospective members for his coaching team.
In a latest audio interview with the former defender, appearing to be recorded prior to Martin's short tenure ended, Gerrard expressed he desired “to be at a team that's going to challenge to win because I think that fits me better”.
He added: “If the right call comes my way, the right club, the right challenge, and I've got my people set, which I plan to have at a future date, I'll accept that role because it's in me.”
Performance at Rangers in Initial Period
After gaining experience as a youth development manager at Liverpool, Gerrard accepted his first managerial role in the mid-year of 2018.
During three full campaigns at Ibrox, he secured only a single trophy – but it proved significant.
Following placements of 13 and nine points behind Celtic in his first two campaigns, Gerrard led Rangers to their first top-flight championship in a decade, which just happened to prevent their Old Firm rivals an historic tenth consecutive title.
And he achieved it in style, with his team unbeaten in the process.
Rangers won all of their home games, netted 92 goals and allowed a mere 13.
The downside was that it came amid of the pandemic and fanless grounds.
It continues to be Rangers' only title success since 2010-11.
How Did Gerrard's Old Firm Record Look?
In sharp difference to Martin's unhappy spell, Gerrard started strongly at Rangers, going 12 games without defeat until his initial trip to Parkhead.
In his first campaign the Old Firm honours were even, each side securing two home victories, with Rangers having previously defeated Celtic in 2012.
Two losses to Celtic occurred in the next truncated season, after which Rangers winning in the east end of Glasgow for the initial occasion since 2010.
After that, Gerrard remained unbeaten in derbies, winning five additional and drawing once.
Rangers progressed through four stages of qualifying to reach the main phase of the Europa League in Gerrard's first season.
In the 2019-20 campaign, they progressed to the knockout rounds of the same competition, losing out to Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16, with their journey ending at the same stage the following season.
Why Did Gerrard Depart Rangers?
The Birmingham club came calling in November 2021, paying £4.5m in fees.
He departed Rangers with a lead ahead of Celtic at the top of the standings – but their local opponents would claw that back to win by the same margin.
The lure of the English top flight is strong and it may have been viewed as the natural progression on a fairytale comeback to Liverpool at a point when his managerial stock was at its peak.
“Steven and his backroom staff have made sure that the team is clearly in a stronger position today than it was several seasons ago,” commented then Rangers football executive Ross Wilson.
“We have shared a desire to advance the club, to update our facilities and to return the team to winning ways.”
How Did Gerrard's Record at Villa & Al-Ettifaq?
Gerrard did not last a full season at Aston Villa.
Inconsistent performances yielded a 14th-place finish at the end of season 2021-22 before a three-goal defeat at Fulham 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 the Middle East in summer 2023 when he took over at the Saudi club.
His most recent job continued for a year and a half and he departed with the club placed 12th in the Saudi Pro League, just five points clear of the relegation zone.
“In summary, I have learned a lot, and it's been a positive journey for me and for my family,” he remarked in late January. “But football is uncertain, and sometimes events don't unfold the way we want.”
These after Rangers exploits may give some hesitation and the man himself might harbor doubts over taking over a underperforming squad, but Gerrard probably has the personality to handle such a high-profile post.
He is the sole Rangers boss to have lifted the league trophy since the legendary Walter Smith. That achievement might well be hard to ignore for an under-pressure Rangers leadership.