Which Lessons Should We Take Away from Steven Gerrard's Tenure as Glasgow Rangers Head Coach?
Steven Gerrard is in the spotlight of discussion after Rangers dismissed Russell Martin on Sunday, while the ex-coach will talk about a possible comeback with the team's leadership.
Those in charge at Rangers announced that a "thorough, considered hiring procedure" is now underway.
Additional names are set to be considered, but if the former Anfield and Three Lions captain is willing to a return spell at the club, could the position as good as his?
The 45-year-old manager lately mentioned about “remaining goals” in management and disclosed he has begun contacting prospective members for his coaching team.
In a recent audio discussion with the former defender, appearing to be filmed prior to Martin's short reign concluded, Gerrard stated he wanted “to be at a team that's going to compete to win because I believe that suits me more”.
He added: “If the right call arrives, the right club, the correct opportunity, 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 His First Stint
Having acquired knowledge as a youth development manager at Anfield, Gerrard took on his maiden coaching role in the summer of 2018.
During three complete seasons at Ibrox, he won just one title – but it was a big one.
After finishing nine and 13 points after Celtic in his initial pair of campaigns, Gerrard led Rangers to their first top-flight championship in a decade, which just happened to deny their Old Firm rivals an historic 10-in-a-row title.
And he achieved it in style, with his team unbeaten throughout.
Rangers won all of their domestic games, netted 92 goals and allowed a mere 13.
The drawback was that it came amid of Covid and fanless grounds.
It remains Rangers' sole league triumph since 2010-11.
How Did Gerrard's Old Firm Record Perform?
In stark contrast to Martin's unhappy experience, Gerrard started strongly at Rangers, remaining 12 games without defeat until his first visit to Parkhead.
In his first campaign the Old Firm results were shared, each side securing two home victories, with Rangers having previously defeated Celtic in 2012.
A pair of defeats to Celtic came in the next truncated season, after which Rangers winning in the eastern part of Glasgow for the initial occasion since 2010.
After that, Gerrard stayed unbeaten in Old Firm clashes, claiming five more and drawing once.
Rangers progressed through four rounds of preliminaries to reach the group stage of the European competition in Gerrard's first season.
In 2019-20, they progressed to the knockout rounds of the same tournament, being eliminated to Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16, with their run concluding at the identical round the next year.
Why Did Gerrard Leave Rangers?
The Birmingham club came calling in late 2021, paying £4.5m in compensation.
He departed Rangers four points ahead of Celtic at the summit of the table – however their city rivals would recover to prevail by the same margin.
The lure of the English top flight is powerful and it may have been seen as the next logical step on a dream comeback to Liverpool at a point when his managerial stock was high.
“Steven and his coaching team have ensured that the team is undoubtedly in a stronger position today than it was three-and-a-half years ago,” said at the time Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson.
“We have had a desire 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 failed to complete a full season at Aston Villa.
Up and down performances resulted in a mid-table finish at the conclusion of season 2021-22 before a three-goal defeat at Craven Cottage left them 17th in autumn 2022 when he was sacked.
Across 2022, he won just eight of his 31 games, suffering defeat in 15.
He transferred to the Middle East in July 2023 when he assumed control at Al-Ettifaq.
His latest role continued for a year and a half and he moved on with the team placed 12th in the Saudi Pro League, just five points above 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 the end of January. “But football is unpredictable, and sometimes things don't go the way we hope.”
Those post-Ibrox exploits may give certain pause for thought and the man himself may have concerns over inheriting a struggling team, but Gerrard likely has the character to manage such a high-profile post.
He is the only Rangers boss to have lifted the league trophy since the legendary Walter Smith. That achievement might well be difficult to overlook for an under-pressure Ibrox board.
