Which Insights Can We Take Away from Gerrard's Tenure as Glasgow Rangers Manager?
The former Liverpool captain is at the center of conversation since Rangers parted ways with Russell Martin on Sunday, while the ex-coach is set to talk about a potential return with the team's owners.
The decision-makers at Rangers have stated that a "comprehensive, considered hiring process" is now underway.
Additional names are set to be reviewed, however if the former Anfield and Three Lions skipper is willing to a return spell at the club, is the job as good as his?
The mid-forties manager has recently mentioned about “unfinished business” in management and disclosed he has started contacting potential members for his coaching team.
In a latest podcast interview with the former defender, which seemed to be recorded prior to Martin's brief reign ended, Gerrard expressed he desired “to be at a team that's set to challenge to win because I believe that suits me better”.
He continued: “If the suitable offer 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 take that challenge on because it's in me.”
Gerrard's Record at Rangers in His First Stint
After gaining knowledge as a youth development manager at Liverpool, Gerrard accepted his maiden coaching position in the summer of 2018.
During three complete seasons at Rangers, he won just one trophy – but it was a big one.
After finishing 13 and nine points after their rivals in his initial pair of campaigns, Gerrard guided Rangers to their first premiership title in a ten years, which just happened to prevent their Glasgow rivals an unprecedented 10-in-a-row win.
And he did it impressively, with his team undefeated in the process.
Rangers won all of their home games, netted 92 goals and allowed a mere 13.
The downside was that it occurred amid of Covid and fanless grounds.
It remains Rangers' only league triumph since 2010-11.
How Did Gerrard's Derby Record Perform?
In stark contrast to Martin's unhappy experience, Gerrard started strongly at Rangers, going 12 games without defeat until his initial trip to Celtic Park.
In his first campaign the derby honours were even, each side securing two home victories, with Rangers having previously defeated Celtic in 2012.
A pair of defeats to Celtic came in the following truncated season, after which Rangers winning in the eastern part of Glasgow for the initial occasion since 2010.
From then on, Gerrard remained undefeated in Old Firm clashes, claiming five additional and drawing once.
Rangers came through four rounds of qualifying to enter the group stage of the European competition in Gerrard's debut season.
In 2019-20, they progressed to the knockout rounds of the identical competition, losing out to the German side in the round of 16, with their journey ending at the same stage the next year.
Why Did Gerrard Depart Rangers?
The Birmingham club came calling in November 2021, forking out £4.5m in fees.
He left Rangers four points clear of Celtic at the summit of the table – but their local opponents would claw that back to win by the same margin.
The lure of the Premier League is powerful and it could have been viewed as the next logical step on a fairytale return to Liverpool at a time when his managerial stock was high.
“Steven and his backroom staff have made sure that the team is clearly in a stronger position today than it was several seasons ago,” commented then Rangers football executive Ross Wilson.
“We have had a goal to advance the club, to update our facilities and to make the club win again.”
How Did Gerrard's Record at Villa & Al-Ettifaq?
Gerrard did not last a full season at Aston Villa.
Up and down performances resulted in a 14th-place position at the conclusion of the 2021-22 campaign before a three-goal defeat at Fulham left them in 17th in autumn 2022 when he was dismissed.
Across 2022, he secured just eight of his 31 games, suffering defeat in 15.
He moved to the Middle East in July 2023 when he assumed control at Al-Ettifaq.
His latest job continued for a year and a half and he moved on with the club sitting 12th in the Saudi league, just five points clear of the drop zone.
“Overall, I have learned a lot, and it's been a positive experience personally and for my loved ones,” he remarked in late January. “But football is uncertain, and sometimes things don't go the way we hope.”
Those after Rangers exploits could cause some pause for thought and the man himself might harbor concerns over taking over a underperforming squad, but Gerrard likely has the character to handle such a high-profile position.
He is the sole Rangers boss to have lifted the championship since the great Walter Smith. That achievement might well be hard to ignore for an pressured Rangers leadership.