Which Insights Can We Take Away from Gerrard's Tenure as Glasgow Rangers Head Coach?
Steven Gerrard has been in the spotlight of discussion after Rangers dismissed Russell Martin on Sunday, and the former manager is set to discuss a possible return with the team's owners.
The decision-makers at Ibrox have stated that a "comprehensive, thoughtful recruitment procedure" is now underway.
Additional names will be considered, but if ex Liverpool and England skipper is open to a second stint at the club, could the position essentially his?
The 45-year-old coach has recently mentioned about “unfinished business” in management and disclosed he has begun contacting potential staff for his coaching team.
In a latest podcast interview with Rio Ferdinand, appearing to be recorded prior to Martin's short tenure concluded, Gerrard stated he desired “to be at a club that's set to compete to win because I believe that fits me better”.
He continued: “If the suitable offer comes my way, the appropriate team, the correct opportunity, and I've got my people set, 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 experience as a academy manager at Anfield, Gerrard accepted his first managerial role in the summer of 2018.
Over three complete campaigns at Ibrox, he won only a single trophy – but it proved significant.
Following placements of nine and 13 points behind Celtic in his initial pair of campaigns, Gerrard led Rangers to their maiden premiership championship in a decade, which coincidentally prevent their Old Firm rivals an unprecedented 10-in-a-row win.
And he achieved it in style, with his team unbeaten throughout.
Rangers triumphed in all of their domestic games, scored 92 goals and conceded a mere 13.
The downside was that it occurred against a backdrop of Covid and fanless grounds.
It continues to be Rangers' sole league triumph since 2010-11.
What Was Gerrard's Old Firm Record Perform?
In sharp difference to Martin's unhappy spell, Gerrard hit the ground running at Rangers, going 12 games unbeaten until his first visit to Celtic Park.
In his debut campaign the Old Firm honours were shared, each side securing two domestic wins, with Rangers having previously defeated Celtic in 2012.
Two losses to Celtic came in the next shortened season, followed by Rangers winning in the east end of Glasgow for the first time since 2010.
From then on, Gerrard stayed undefeated in Old Firm clashes, winning five additional and drawing once.
Rangers progressed through four stages of preliminaries to enter the group stage of the Europa League in Gerrard's debut season.
In 2019-20, they advanced to the knockout rounds of the identical competition, being eliminated to Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16, with their journey ending at the same stage the following season.
Why Did Gerrard Leave Rangers?
Aston Villa came calling in November 2021, forking out £4.5m in compensation.
He departed Rangers four points clear of Celtic at the summit of the standings – however their city rivals would claw that back to prevail by the identical gap.
The lure of the English top flight is powerful and it may have been viewed as the next logical step on a fairytale return to Anfield at a time when his managerial stock was at its peak.
“Steven and his backroom staff have ensured that the club is clearly in a better place today than it was three-and-a-half years ago,” said then Rangers football executive Ross Wilson.
“We have shared a desire to move Rangers forward, 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 Aston Villa.
Up and down performances resulted in a mid-table finish at the conclusion of season 2021-22 before a 3-0 loss at Craven Cottage left them 17th in autumn 2022 when he was sacked.
Across 2022, he secured only eight of his 31 games, suffering defeat in 15.
He transferred to the Middle East in summer 2023 when he took over at Al-Ettifaq.
His most recent job lasted a year and a half and he departed with the team placed 12th in the Saudi Pro League, just five points clear of the relegation zone.
“In summary, I have gained valuable experience, and it's been a beneficial journey personally and for my loved ones,” he remarked in the end of January. “But soccer is unpredictable, and at times things don't go the way we hope.”
Those post-Ibrox exploits could cause some pause for thought and the individual may have concerns over inheriting a underperforming team, but Gerrard likely has the character to manage such a prominent position.
He is the only Rangers boss to have won the championship since the great Walter Smith. That experience could be hard to ignore for an under-pressure Ibrox board.
