What Insights Should We Learn from Steven Gerrard's Tenure as Rangers Manager?
Steven Gerrard is in the spotlight of discussion since Rangers dismissed Russell Martin on the weekend, while the former manager will talk about a possible comeback with the team's leadership.
The decision-makers at Rangers have stated that a "comprehensive, considered hiring process" is now in progress.
Additional names will be considered, however if the former Anfield and Three Lions captain is open to a second stint at Ibrox, is the job as good as his?
The 45-year-old manager lately mentioned about “remaining goals” in coaching and disclosed he has started approaching potential staff for his coaching team.
In a latest podcast interview with the former defender, which seemed to be filmed prior to Martin's short tenure ended, Gerrard expressed he desired “to be at a club that's going to compete to win because I think that suits me more”.
He added: “If the right call comes my way, the right club, the correct opportunity, and I've assembled my staff, 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 His First Stint
Having acquired knowledge as a academy coach at Anfield, Gerrard took on his first managerial role in the summer of 2018.
Over three full campaigns at Rangers, he secured just one title – however it was a big one.
After finishing 13 and nine points behind Celtic in his first two seasons, Gerrard led Rangers to their first top-flight championship in a ten years, which just happened to deny their Glasgow rivals an historic 10-in-a-row win.
And he achieved it impressively, with his team undefeated in the process.
Rangers won all of their home games, scored 92 goals and conceded a mere 13.
The drawback was that it occurred against a backdrop of the pandemic and empty stadiums.
It continues to be Rangers' sole league triumph since the 2010-11 season.
What Was Gerrard's Derby Record Perform?
In sharp difference to Martin's disappointing spell, Gerrard hit the ground running at Rangers, going 12 games unbeaten until his first visit to Parkhead.
In his first season the Old Firm honours were shared, each side securing two domestic victories, with Rangers having last beaten Celtic in 2012.
Two losses to Celtic came in the following shortened season, followed by Rangers winning in the east end of Glasgow for the initial occasion since 2010.
After that, Gerrard remained unbeaten in Old Firm clashes, claiming five additional and tying once.
Rangers progressed through four rounds of preliminaries to reach the group stage of the Europa League in Gerrard's debut season.
In 2019-20, they advanced to the elimination stage of the same competition, losing out to Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16, with their journey concluding at the identical round the next year.
Why Did Gerrard Leave Rangers?
The Birmingham club made an approach in November 2021, forking out £4.5m in fees.
He departed Rangers four points clear of Celtic at the top of the table – however their city rivals would recover to win by the same margin.
The lure of the English top flight is powerful and it could have been seen as the natural progression 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 stronger position today than it was three-and-a-half years ago,” commented at the time Rangers football executive Ross Wilson.
“We have shared a goal to move Rangers forward, to modernise our facilities and to make the club win again.”
What Was 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 conclusion of the 2021-22 campaign before a 3-0 loss at Craven Cottage left them in 17th in October 2022 when he was sacked.
Across 2022, he secured only eight of his 31 games, losing 15.
He moved to Saudi Arabia in July 2023 when he took over at the Saudi club.
His most recent role lasted 18 months and he moved on with the team placed 12th in the Saudi Pro League, just five points clear of the drop zone.
“In summary, I have gained valuable experience, and it's been a positive journey personally and for my family,” he said in the end of January. “But soccer is unpredictable, and sometimes events don't unfold the way we hope.”
These post-Ibrox experiences may give some pause for thought and the individual may have doubts over taking over 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 championship since the great Walter Smith. That achievement might well be hard to ignore for an pressured Rangers leadership.