What Lessons Can We Learn from Gerrard's Time as Rangers Manager?

The former Liverpool captain has been in the spotlight of discussion after Rangers parted ways with Russell Martin on the weekend, while the ex-coach will discuss a potential return with the team's owners.

The decision-makers at Ibrox have stated that a "thorough, thoughtful hiring procedure" is now underway.

Other candidates will be considered, however if ex Anfield and Three Lions skipper is willing to a second stint at Ibrox, is the job essentially his?

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

In a latest audio discussion with Rio Ferdinand, appearing to be filmed prior to Martin's brief tenure ended, Gerrard stated he wanted “to be at a team that's going to challenge to win because I believe that suits me more”.

He continued: “If the right call comes my way, the right club, the right challenge, and I've got my people set, which I will have at a future date, I'll take that challenge on because it's part of my nature.”

Gerrard's Record at Rangers in Initial Period

Having acquired knowledge as a youth development manager at Anfield, Gerrard took on his maiden coaching position in the summer of 2018.

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

After finishing nine and 13 points behind their rivals in his initial pair of campaigns, Gerrard guided Rangers to their first premiership title in a ten years, which coincidentally prevent their Glasgow rivals an historic tenth consecutive win.

And he did it in style, with his team undefeated throughout.

Rangers triumphed in all of their home games, scored 92 goals and conceded a only 13.

The drawback was that it came against a backdrop of Covid and empty stadiums.

It remains Rangers' sole league triumph since the 2010-11 season.

How Did Gerrard's Derby Record Look?

In sharp difference to Martin's unhappy experience, Gerrard started strongly at Rangers, remaining 12 games unbeaten until his initial trip to Parkhead.

In his first campaign the derby honours were even, each side earning two domestic wins, with Rangers having last beaten Celtic in 2012.

A pair of defeats to Celtic came in the next truncated season, followed by Rangers winning in the eastern part of Glasgow for the initial occasion since 2010.

From then on, Gerrard remained undefeated in derbies, claiming five additional and tying once.

Rangers came through four stages of qualifying to enter the group stage of the Europa League in Gerrard's first season.

In the 2019-20 campaign, they advanced to the elimination stage of the same tournament, being eliminated to the German side in the last 16, with their run ending at the identical round the next year.

What Led Gerrard Depart Rangers?

The Birmingham club came calling in November 2021, forking out £4.5m in fees.

He left Rangers four points ahead of Celtic at the summit of the standings – but their local opponents would recover to prevail by the identical gap.

The lure of the English top flight is powerful and it could 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 coaching team have made sure that the team is undoubtedly in a better place today than it was several seasons ago,” commented then Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson.

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

How Did 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 finish at the end of the 2021-22 campaign before a 3-0 loss 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 summer 2023 when he took over 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, just five points above the relegation zone.

“In summary, I have gained valuable experience, and it's been a positive journey for me and for my family,” he said in late January. “But soccer is unpredictable, and at times events don't unfold the way we want.”

Those post-Ibrox experiences may give some hesitation and the man himself might harbor concerns over taking over a struggling squad, but Gerrard probably has the personality to manage such a prominent post.

He is the sole Rangers boss to have won the championship since the great Walter Smith. That experience could be difficult to overlook for an under-pressure Ibrox board.