Which Insights Can We Learn from Gerrard's Time as Glasgow Rangers Manager?

Steven Gerrard has been in the spotlight of conversation since Rangers parted ways with Russell Martin on Sunday, while the former manager will discuss a possible return with the team's owners.

Those in charge at Ibrox have stated that a "comprehensive, thoughtful hiring procedure" is now underway.

Additional names will be reviewed, however if ex Anfield and Three Lions skipper is open to a second stint at the club, could the position essentially his?

The 45-year-old manager has recently spoken about “unfinished business” in coaching and revealed he has begun approaching prospective staff for his coaching team.

In a recent podcast discussion with the former defender, which seemed to be filmed prior to Martin's short tenure concluded, Gerrard stated he desired “to be at a team that's set to compete to win because I think that fits me more”.

He added: “If the suitable offer comes my way, the right club, the right challenge, and I've assembled my staff, which I will have at a future date, I'll accept that role because it's in me.”

Performance at Rangers in Initial Period

After gaining knowledge as a academy coach at Liverpool, Gerrard took on his maiden coaching position in the summer of 2018.

During three full seasons at Rangers, he won just one trophy – but it proved significant.

After finishing nine and 13 points behind Celtic in his first two campaigns, Gerrard led Rangers to their maiden top-flight championship in a ten years, which coincidentally deny their Old Firm rivals an historic 10-in-a-row title.

And he did it in style, with his team unbeaten in the process.

Rangers won all of their domestic games, scored 92 goals and conceded a mere 13.

The downside was that it occurred amid of Covid and empty stadiums.

It remains Rangers' only 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 without defeat until his first visit to Parkhead.

In his first campaign the derby honours were even, each side securing two domestic wins, with Rangers having previously defeated Celtic in 2012.

A pair of defeats to Celtic came in the next shortened season, followed by Rangers securing a victory in the east end of Glasgow for the initial occasion since 2010.

After that, Gerrard stayed unbeaten in derbies, claiming five more and tying once.

Rangers progressed through four rounds of preliminaries to reach 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 competition, losing out to the German side in the round of 16, with their journey ending at the same stage the following season.

Why Did Gerrard Depart Rangers?

Aston Villa came calling in November 2021, paying £4.5m in fees.

He left Rangers with a lead clear of Celtic at the top of the table – but their local opponents would recover to win by the identical gap.

The attraction of the Premier League is strong and it could have been seen as the next logical step on a dream return to Anfield at a time when his managerial stock was high.

“Steven and his backroom staff have made sure that the club is undoubtedly in a better place today than it was three-and-a-half years ago,” commented then Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson.

“We have had a desire to move Rangers forward, to update our facilities and to make the club win again.”

What Was Gerrard's Record at Villa & Al-Ettifaq?

Gerrard failed to complete a year at Aston Villa.

Up and down performances resulted in a 14th-place position at the end of season 2021-22 before a 3-0 defeat at Fulham placed 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 the Middle East in summer 2023 when he took over at the Saudi club.

His most recent role lasted a year and a half and he moved on with the club placed 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 personally and for my family,” he said in late January. “But football is uncertain, and at times things don't go the way we hope.”

These after Rangers exploits may give certain hesitation and the man himself might harbor doubts 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 could be difficult to overlook for an pressured Rangers leadership.