Which Insights Can We Learn from Gerrard's Tenure as Rangers Head Coach?
Steven Gerrard has been in the spotlight of conversation since Rangers dismissed Russell Martin on the weekend, while the former manager is set to talk about a possible comeback with the team's owners.
The decision-makers at Rangers announced that a "thorough, considered recruitment process" is now underway.
Additional names are set to be reviewed, however if ex Anfield and Three Lions skipper is open to a return spell at Ibrox, is the job essentially his?
The mid-forties manager lately mentioned about “remaining goals” in management and disclosed he has started approaching potential members for his coaching team.
In a latest podcast discussion with Rio Ferdinand, which seemed to be filmed prior to Martin's brief tenure ended, Gerrard expressed he wanted “to be at a team that's set to compete to win because I believe that suits me more”.
He continued: “If the right call arrives, the right club, the right challenge, and I've got my people set, which I will have at some point, I'll accept that role because it's in me.”
Performance at Rangers in His First Stint
Having acquired knowledge as a youth development coach at Liverpool, Gerrard accepted his maiden coaching position in the mid-year of 2018.
During three complete seasons at Rangers, he won only a single trophy – however it was a big one.
After finishing nine and 13 points after their rivals in his initial pair of campaigns, Gerrard guided Rangers to their maiden premiership title in a ten years, which just happened to deny their Old Firm rivals an historic tenth consecutive title.
And he achieved it in style, with his team unbeaten throughout.
Rangers won all of their home games, netted 92 goals and conceded a only 13.
The downside was that it occurred amid of the pandemic and empty stadiums.
It continues to be Rangers' only league triumph since the 2010-11 season.
What Was Gerrard's Old Firm Record Perform?
In sharp difference to Martin's unhappy spell, Gerrard hit the ground running at Rangers, going 12 games without defeat until his initial trip to Parkhead.
In his debut season the Old Firm results were even, each side securing two home wins, with Rangers having previously defeated Celtic in 2012.
Two losses to Celtic came in the following shortened season, followed by Rangers winning in the east end of Glasgow for the initial occasion since 2010.
After that, Gerrard stayed unbeaten in Old Firm clashes, winning five more and drawing once.
Rangers progressed through four stages of preliminaries to enter the main phase of the Europa League in Gerrard's first season.
In 2019-20, they progressed to the elimination stage of the identical competition, losing out to the German side in the round of 16, with their journey concluding at the identical round the next year.
Why Did Gerrard Depart Rangers?
Aston Villa made an approach in late 2021, forking out £4.5m in fees.
He left Rangers with a lead ahead of Celtic at the top of the standings – however their city rivals would claw that back to win by the same margin.
The attraction of the English top flight is powerful and it may have been viewed as the next logical step on a dream return to Liverpool at a point when his coaching reputation was at its peak.
“Steven and his coaching team have ensured that the club is undoubtedly in a stronger position today than it was three-and-a-half years ago,” said then Rangers football executive Ross Wilson.
“We have shared a goal to advance the club, to modernise our infrastructure and to make the club win again.”
What Was Gerrard's Record at Villa & Al-Ettifaq?
Gerrard did not last a year at Villa Park.
Inconsistent performances resulted in a 14th-place position at the conclusion of season 2021-22 before a 3-0 loss at Craven Cottage placed them 17th in autumn 2022 when he was sacked.
During 2022, he won only eight of his 31 games, suffering defeat in 15.
He transferred to the Middle East in summer 2023 when he took over at the Saudi club.
His latest role lasted a year and a half and he moved on with the team placed in 12th in the Saudi league, just five points clear of the drop zone.
“In summary, I have gained valuable experience, and it's been a positive experience for me and for my family,” he said in the end of January. “But football is unpredictable, and at times things don't go the way we want.”
These after Rangers experiences could cause some pause for thought and the individual may have concerns over taking over a underperforming squad, but Gerrard likely has the character to manage such a high-profile post.
He is the sole Rangers manager to have won the championship since the legendary Walter Smith. That achievement might well be hard to ignore for an pressured Rangers leadership.
