Which Insights Can We Take Away from Gerrard's Tenure as Glasgow Rangers Head Coach?
Steven Gerrard has been at the center of discussion after Rangers dismissed Russell Martin on the weekend, while the ex-coach will talk about a potential return with the team's owners.
The decision-makers at Ibrox announced that a "comprehensive, considered recruitment process" is currently in progress.
Other candidates will be considered, but if the former Anfield and Three Lions skipper is open to a second stint at the club, could the position as good as his?
The mid-forties coach lately spoken about “remaining goals” in management and revealed he has started approaching prospective staff for his backroom team.
In a recent audio interview with Rio Ferdinand, which seemed to be recorded before Martin's short tenure ended, Gerrard expressed he wanted “to be at a team that's going to compete to win because I think that fits me better”.
He added: “If the right call comes my way, the right club, the correct opportunity, and I've got my people set, which I will have at some point, I'll accept that role because it's in me.”
Performance at Rangers in His First Stint
Having acquired experience as a youth development coach at Anfield, Gerrard accepted his first managerial position in the mid-year of 2018.
During three complete campaigns at Ibrox, he won only a single trophy – but it was a big one.
After finishing nine and 13 points after their rivals in his initial pair of campaigns, Gerrard led Rangers to their first premiership title in a decade, which just happened to prevent their Old Firm rivals an historic 10-in-a-row title.
And he did it in style, with his team unbeaten throughout.
Rangers won all of their domestic games, scored 92 goals and allowed a mere 13.
The downside was that it came amid of the pandemic and fanless grounds.
It remains Rangers' only league triumph since the 2010-11 season.
How Did Gerrard's Old Firm Record Look?
In sharp difference to Martin's disappointing spell, Gerrard started strongly at Rangers, remaining 12 games without defeat until his initial trip to Celtic Park.
In his first campaign the Old Firm results were shared, each side securing two home victories, with Rangers having previously defeated Celtic in 2012.
Two losses to Celtic came in the following shortened season, followed by Rangers securing a victory in the eastern part of Glasgow for the initial occasion since 2010.
After that, Gerrard stayed unbeaten in Old Firm clashes, claiming five additional and tying once.
Rangers progressed through four stages of qualifying to enter the group stage of the European competition in Gerrard's first season.
In the 2019-20 campaign, they progressed to the knockout rounds of the identical tournament, being eliminated to the German side in the round of 16, with their run ending at the identical round the next year.
Why Did Gerrard Leave Rangers?
Aston Villa made an approach in November 2021, forking out £4.5m in compensation.
He left Rangers four points ahead of Celtic at the top of the table – however their local opponents would claw that back to win by the same margin.
The lure of the Premier League is strong and it may have been viewed as the next logical step on a dream comeback to Liverpool at a point when his coaching reputation was at its peak.
“Steven and his coaching team have ensured that the team is clearly in a stronger position today than it was several seasons ago,” said at the time Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson.
“We have shared a desire to advance the club, to modernise our facilities and to make the club win again.”
How Did Gerrard's Record at Aston Villa and in Saudi Arabia?
Gerrard did not last a year at Villa Park.
Inconsistent performances yielded a 14th-place finish at the end of season 2021-22 before a 3-0 loss at Craven Cottage left them 17th in autumn 2022 when he was sacked.
During 2022, he secured only eight of his 31 games, losing 15.
He transferred to Saudi Arabia in July 2023 when he assumed control at the Saudi club.
His most recent job lasted a year and a half and he departed with the club placed in 12th in the Saudi league, only five points clear of the drop zone.
“In summary, I have gained valuable experience, and it's been a positive experience personally and for my family,” he said in late January. “But football is uncertain, and at times events don't unfold the way we hope.”
These post-Ibrox experiences could cause certain pause for thought and the man himself might harbor concerns over inheriting a underperforming team, but Gerrard likely has the personality to handle such a prominent 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 pressured Ibrox board.
