Which Lessons Should We Take Away from Steven Gerrard's Tenure as Glasgow Rangers Manager?
Steven Gerrard has been in the spotlight of conversation since Rangers parted ways with Russell Martin on the weekend, and the ex-coach is set to talk about a potential return with the club's leadership.
The decision-makers at Rangers announced that a "thorough, thoughtful recruitment process" is now underway.
Additional names will be reviewed, however if the former Liverpool and England captain is willing to a second stint at the club, could the position essentially his?
The 45-year-old manager has recently mentioned about “remaining goals” in coaching and disclosed he has started contacting prospective staff for his coaching team.
In a latest audio interview with Rio Ferdinand, which seemed to be filmed before Martin's brief tenure ended, Gerrard expressed he desired “to be at a club that's set to compete to win because I think that fits me more”.
He added: “If the right call comes my way, the appropriate team, the correct opportunity, and I've assembled my staff, 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
Having acquired experience as a academy manager at Liverpool, Gerrard accepted his first managerial position in the mid-year of 2018.
Over three complete seasons at Rangers, he secured just one trophy – however it was a big one.
Following placements of nine and 13 points after their rivals in his initial pair of campaigns, Gerrard guided Rangers to their maiden top-flight title in a ten years, which coincidentally prevent their Old Firm rivals an unprecedented tenth consecutive title.
And he did it in style, with his team undefeated throughout.
Rangers triumphed in all of their domestic games, netted 92 goals and conceded a mere 13.
The drawback was that it came amid of the pandemic and fanless grounds.
It remains Rangers' sole league triumph since the 2010-11 season.
How Did Gerrard's Derby Record Perform?
In stark contrast to Martin's disappointing spell, Gerrard hit the ground running at Rangers, remaining 12 games without defeat until his initial trip to Parkhead.
In his first season the derby results were shared, each side earning two domestic victories, with Rangers having previously defeated Celtic in 2012.
Two losses to Celtic occurred in the next shortened season, after which Rangers securing a victory in the eastern part of Glasgow for the initial occasion since 2010.
After that, Gerrard remained unbeaten in derbies, winning five more and drawing once.
Rangers came through four stages of qualifying to enter the main phase of the Europa League in Gerrard's first season.
In 2019-20, they advanced to the knockout rounds of the identical competition, being eliminated 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?
The Birmingham club came calling in late 2021, paying £4.5m in compensation.
He departed Rangers four points clear of Celtic at the summit of the table – but their local opponents would recover to win by the same margin.
The lure of the English top flight is strong and it may have been seen as the natural progression on a dream comeback to Liverpool at a point when his managerial stock was at its peak.
“Steven and his coaching team have ensured that the club is clearly in a better place today than it was three-and-a-half years ago,” said then Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson.
“We have shared a goal to advance the club, to modernise our facilities and to return the team to winning ways.”
What Was Gerrard's Record at Villa & Al-Ettifaq?
Gerrard failed to complete a full season at Aston Villa.
Up and down results yielded a 14th-place position at the end of the 2021-22 campaign before a 3-0 defeat at Craven Cottage placed them 17th in autumn 2022 when he was dismissed.
Across 2022, he secured just eight of his 31 games, suffering defeat in 15.
He transferred to the Middle East in summer 2023 when he assumed control at Al-Ettifaq.
His latest role lasted a year and a half and he departed with the team sitting 12th in the Saudi Pro League, only five points clear of the relegation zone.
“In summary, I have gained valuable experience, and it's been a positive journey for me and for my loved ones,” he remarked in the end of January. “But soccer is uncertain, and sometimes things don't go the way we want.”
Those post-Ibrox experiences may give some hesitation and the man himself may have doubts over inheriting a underperforming team, but Gerrard likely has the personality to handle such a prominent post.
He is the only Rangers manager to have lifted the league trophy since the legendary Walter Smith. That experience could be difficult to overlook for an under-pressure Rangers leadership.