What Insights Should We Learn from Gerrard's Time as Rangers Manager?
Steven Gerrard is at the center of discussion since Rangers dismissed Russell Martin on Sunday, and the former manager will talk about a potential comeback with the team's owners.
The decision-makers at Ibrox have stated that a "comprehensive, considered hiring process" is currently in progress.
Other candidates are set to be reviewed, however if the former Anfield and Three Lions skipper is open to a second stint at the club, is the job essentially his?
The mid-forties manager lately mentioned about “unfinished business” in coaching and disclosed he has begun approaching prospective staff for his backroom team.
In a recent audio interview with the former defender, which seemed to be recorded before Martin's short reign concluded, Gerrard expressed he desired “to be at a club that's going to challenge to win because I think that suits me more”.
He added: “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 accept that role because it's in me.”
Gerrard's Record at Rangers in His First Stint
Having acquired experience as a academy coach at Anfield, Gerrard took on his maiden coaching position in the mid-year of 2018.
During three full campaigns at Ibrox, he won only a single title – however it was a big one.
After finishing 13 and nine points behind Celtic in his first two campaigns, Gerrard guided Rangers to their maiden premiership championship in a ten years, which just happened to deny their Glasgow rivals an unprecedented 10-in-a-row win.
And he achieved it in style, with his team undefeated in the process.
Rangers won all of their home games, netted 92 goals and conceded a mere 13.
The downside was that it occurred against a backdrop of Covid and empty stadiums.
It remains Rangers' only league triumph since 2010-11.
How Did Gerrard's Old Firm Record Look?
In sharp difference to Martin's unhappy experience, Gerrard hit the ground running at Rangers, remaining 12 games unbeaten until his first visit to Parkhead.
In his first season the derby honours were shared, each side earning two domestic wins, with Rangers having last beaten Celtic in 2012.
Two losses to Celtic occurred in the following 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 derbies, winning five more and tying once.
Rangers progressed through four rounds of preliminaries to enter the group stage of the European competition in Gerrard's debut season.
In the 2019-20 campaign, they progressed to the knockout rounds of the identical tournament, being eliminated to Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16, with their journey ending at the same stage the next year.
What Led Gerrard Depart Rangers?
The Birmingham club came calling in late 2021, forking out £4.5m in fees.
He left Rangers four points clear of Celtic at the top of the standings – however their local opponents would claw that back to prevail by the identical gap.
The lure of the English top flight is strong and it could have been seen as the next logical step on a dream return to Anfield at a point when his coaching reputation was at its peak.
“Steven and his backroom staff have ensured that the team is clearly in a better place today than it was several seasons ago,” commented at the time Rangers football executive Ross Wilson.
“We have had a desire to move Rangers forward, to modernise our infrastructure 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 results yielded a 14th-place position at the conclusion of season 2021-22 before a 3-0 loss at Craven Cottage placed them 17th in autumn 2022 when he was sacked.
During 2022, he secured just eight of his 31 games, losing 15.
He moved to Saudi Arabia in summer 2023 when he assumed control at the Saudi club.
His most recent job continued for a year and a half and he departed with the club sitting in 12th in the Saudi Pro League, just five points above the relegation zone.
“In summary, I have learned a lot, and it's been a beneficial experience for me and for my family,” he remarked in the end of 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 inheriting a struggling squad, but Gerrard likely has the personality to manage such a prominent post.
He is the only Rangers manager to have lifted the league trophy since the legendary Walter Smith. That experience might well be hard to ignore for an under-pressure Rangers leadership.
