Which Insights Can We Take Away from Steven Gerrard's Tenure as Rangers Manager?
Steven Gerrard has been in the spotlight of discussion since Rangers parted ways with Russell Martin on the weekend, while the former manager is set to discuss a potential return with the team's leadership.
The decision-makers at Rangers have stated that a "comprehensive, considered recruitment process" is currently underway.
Additional names will be reviewed, however if ex Anfield and Three Lions captain is willing to a return spell at Ibrox, is the job as good as his?
The mid-forties coach lately spoken about “remaining goals” in management and revealed he has started approaching prospective members for his backroom team.
In a latest audio discussion with the former defender, which seemed to be filmed before Martin's brief tenure concluded, Gerrard expressed he desired “to be at a team that's going to compete to win because I believe that suits me more”.
He continued: “If the suitable offer arrives, the appropriate team, the right challenge, and I've assembled my staff, which I plan to have at some point, I'll accept that role because it's part of my nature.”
Gerrard's Record at Rangers in Initial Period
Having acquired knowledge as a youth development coach at Anfield, Gerrard accepted his first managerial position in the summer of 2018.
During three complete campaigns at Rangers, he won only a single title – however it proved significant.
After finishing 13 and nine points after their rivals in his first two seasons, Gerrard guided Rangers to their first top-flight title in a decade, which just happened to deny their Old Firm rivals an unprecedented tenth consecutive title.
And he achieved it in style, with his team undefeated in the process.
Rangers won all of their home games, scored 92 goals and allowed a mere 13.
The downside was that it came amid of the pandemic and fanless grounds.
It remains Rangers' sole title success since the 2010-11 season.
How Did Gerrard's Derby Record Perform?
In stark contrast to Martin's disappointing spell, Gerrard started strongly at Rangers, going 12 games unbeaten until his first visit to Parkhead.
In his first season the Old Firm honours were even, each side earning two domestic victories, with Rangers having previously defeated Celtic in 2012.
Two losses to Celtic came in the next truncated season, followed by Rangers winning in the eastern part of Glasgow for the first time since 2010.
From then on, Gerrard remained undefeated in derbies, winning five additional and tying once.
Rangers came through four rounds of qualifying to enter the group stage of the Europa League in Gerrard's debut season.
In the 2019-20 campaign, they advanced to the knockout rounds of the same competition, being eliminated to the German side in the round of 16, with their run concluding at the same stage the next year.
Why Did Gerrard Leave Rangers?
Aston Villa came calling in late 2021, paying £4.5m in compensation.
He left Rangers four points ahead of Celtic at the summit of the standings – but their city rivals would recover to prevail by the identical gap.
The attraction of the English top flight is strong and it may have been viewed as the natural progression on a dream return to Liverpool at a point when his managerial stock was high.
“Steven and his backroom staff have made sure that the club is clearly in a stronger position today than it was three-and-a-half years ago,” commented at the time Rangers football executive Ross Wilson.
“We have had a goal to advance the club, to update our infrastructure and to make the club win again.”
How Did Gerrard's Record at Villa & Al-Ettifaq?
Gerrard failed to complete a full season at Villa Park.
Inconsistent performances resulted in a 14th-place position at the end of season 2021-22 before a 3-0 defeat at Fulham left them 17th in autumn 2022 when he was sacked.
Across 2022, he secured just eight of his 31 games, suffering defeat in 15.
He transferred to Saudi Arabia in summer 2023 when he assumed control at the Saudi club.
His latest role continued for a year and a half and he departed with the team placed in 12th in the Saudi league, just five points above the drop zone.
“In summary, I have learned a lot, and it's been a beneficial journey personally and for my family,” he remarked in late January. “But soccer is uncertain, and sometimes events don't unfold the way we hope.”
These post-Ibrox exploits could cause some hesitation and the individual might harbor doubts over inheriting a struggling team, but Gerrard likely has the character to manage such a prominent position.
He is the sole Rangers manager to have lifted the league trophy since the great Walter Smith. That achievement might well be hard to ignore for an pressured Rangers leadership.
