Which Lessons Should We Learn from Steven Gerrard's Time as Rangers Manager?
Steven Gerrard is in the spotlight of discussion since Rangers parted ways with Russell Martin on Sunday, and the ex-coach will talk about a possible comeback with the team's owners.
The decision-makers at Ibrox have stated that a "thorough, thoughtful recruitment procedure" is now underway.
Additional names will be reviewed, but if ex Anfield and Three Lions captain is open to a return spell at the club, is the job as good as his?
The mid-forties manager lately mentioned about “unfinished business” in management and disclosed he has started contacting potential members for his backroom team.
In a latest podcast discussion with Rio Ferdinand, appearing to be recorded before Martin's short tenure concluded, Gerrard expressed he desired “to be at a club that's set to compete to win because I think that suits me more”.
He added: “If the right call comes my way, the right club, the correct opportunity, and I've assembled my staff, which I plan to have at some point, I'll take that challenge on because it's part of my nature.”
Gerrard's Record at Rangers in Initial Period
Having acquired experience as a youth development manager at Liverpool, Gerrard accepted his first managerial role in the mid-year of 2018.
Over three full campaigns at Rangers, he won only a single trophy – but it was a big one.
Following placements of 13 and nine points behind Celtic in his initial pair of seasons, Gerrard led Rangers to their first top-flight title in a ten years, which just happened to deny their Old Firm rivals an unprecedented 10-in-a-row win.
And he achieved it in style, with his team unbeaten throughout.
Rangers triumphed in all of their domestic games, netted 92 goals and allowed a mere 13.
The downside was that it occurred amid of Covid and empty stadiums.
It remains Rangers' only title success since 2010-11.
What Was Gerrard's Old Firm Record Perform?
In stark contrast to Martin's unhappy spell, Gerrard hit the ground running at Rangers, remaining 12 games without defeat until his first visit to Celtic Park.
In his debut campaign the derby 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, followed by Rangers securing a victory in the eastern part of Glasgow for the first time since 2010.
After that, Gerrard stayed undefeated in Old Firm clashes, claiming five additional 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 2019-20, they progressed to the elimination stage of the identical tournament, losing out to Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16, with their run concluding at the same stage the following season.
Why Did Gerrard Leave Rangers?
The Birmingham club came calling in November 2021, paying £4.5m in fees.
He departed Rangers with a lead clear of Celtic at the summit of the table – but their city rivals 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 dream comeback to Anfield at a time when his coaching reputation was at its peak.
“Steven and his coaching team have ensured that the team is undoubtedly in a stronger position today than it was several seasons ago,” commented at the time Rangers football executive Ross Wilson.
“We have shared a goal to advance the club, to modernise our facilities and to return the team to winning ways.”
How Did Gerrard's Record at Aston Villa and in Saudi Arabia?
Gerrard did not last a year at Aston Villa.
Up and down results yielded a mid-table finish at the conclusion of season 2021-22 before a three-goal defeat at Craven Cottage left them in 17th in autumn 2022 when he was sacked.
Across 2022, he won just eight of his 31 games, losing 15.
He transferred to Saudi Arabia in summer 2023 when he took over at Al-Ettifaq.
His latest job lasted a year and a half and he departed with the club sitting 12th in the Saudi league, just five points clear of the relegation zone.
“In summary, I have learned a lot, and it's been a beneficial experience personally and for my loved ones,” he said in late January. “But soccer is unpredictable, and at times events don't unfold the way we want.”
Those post-Ibrox exploits could cause certain hesitation and the man himself might harbor concerns over taking over a underperforming team, but Gerrard probably has the character to manage such a prominent position.
He is the only Rangers manager to have won the league trophy since the legendary Walter Smith. That experience might well be difficult to overlook for an under-pressure Ibrox board.