What Lessons Can We Learn from Gerrard's Tenure as Rangers Head Coach?
Steven Gerrard has been in the spotlight of discussion since Rangers parted ways with Russell Martin on Sunday, while the former manager is set to talk about a potential comeback with the team's leadership.
Those in charge at Ibrox announced that a "thorough, thoughtful recruitment procedure" is currently in progress.
Other candidates are set to be considered, but if ex Anfield and Three Lions captain is open to a second stint at Ibrox, could the position essentially his?
The mid-forties coach lately mentioned about “remaining goals” in coaching and revealed he has begun approaching potential members for his backroom team.
In a recent audio discussion with the former defender, appearing to be filmed prior to Martin's brief reign concluded, Gerrard expressed he desired “to be at a team that's going to challenge to win because I think that suits me better”.
He continued: “If the right call comes my way, the right club, the correct opportunity, and I've assembled my staff, which I will have at some point, I'll accept that role because it's part of my nature.”
Performance at Rangers in His First Stint
After gaining experience as a youth development manager at Anfield, Gerrard accepted his maiden coaching role in the summer of 2018.
Over three complete campaigns at Rangers, he won just one title – however it proved significant.
After finishing nine and 13 points after their rivals in his first two seasons, Gerrard led Rangers to their first top-flight championship in a decade, which just happened to prevent their Glasgow rivals an historic tenth consecutive win.
And he did it in style, with his team unbeaten in the process.
Rangers won all of their home games, scored 92 goals and conceded a mere 13.
The drawback was that it came amid of Covid and fanless grounds.
It continues to be Rangers' sole title success since 2010-11.
How Did Gerrard's Old Firm Record Look?
In sharp difference to Martin's unhappy experience, Gerrard hit the ground running at Rangers, going 12 games without defeat until his initial trip to Celtic Park.
In his first season the Old Firm honours were even, each side securing two domestic victories, with Rangers having last beaten Celtic in 2012.
A pair of defeats to Celtic came in the following truncated season, after which Rangers securing a victory in the east end of Glasgow for the first time since 2010.
From then on, Gerrard remained unbeaten in Old Firm clashes, claiming five more and drawing once.
Rangers progressed through four rounds of qualifying to reach the group stage of the Europa League in Gerrard's first season.
In the 2019-20 campaign, they progressed to the elimination stage of the same tournament, being eliminated to Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16, with their run ending at the identical round the following season.
What Led Gerrard Depart Rangers?
The Birmingham club made an approach in late 2021, forking out £4.5m in fees.
He left Rangers with a lead clear of Celtic at the top of the table – however their local opponents would claw that back to prevail by the identical gap.
The attraction of the English top flight is powerful and it may have been viewed as the next logical step on a fairytale comeback to Liverpool at a point when his coaching reputation was at its peak.
“Steven and his coaching team have made sure that the team is clearly in a better place today than it was several seasons ago,” commented then Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson.
“We have shared a desire to move Rangers forward, to update our facilities and to make the club win again.”
How Did Gerrard's Record at Villa & Al-Ettifaq?
Gerrard failed to complete a full season at Aston Villa.
Inconsistent performances resulted in a 14th-place finish at the conclusion of season 2021-22 before a 3-0 defeat at Craven Cottage placed them 17th in autumn 2022 when he was sacked.
Across 2022, he secured only eight of his 31 games, suffering defeat in 15.
He moved to the Middle East in summer 2023 when he took over at Al-Ettifaq.
His most recent job lasted 18 months and he moved on with the team sitting in 12th in the Saudi Pro League, just five points above the relegation zone.
“Overall, I have learned a lot, and it's been a beneficial experience personally and for my family,” he said in the end of January. “But football is unpredictable, and at times events don't unfold the way we hope.”
Those after Rangers experiences could cause some pause for thought and the man himself might harbor doubts over taking over a underperforming squad, but Gerrard likely has the character to manage such a high-profile position.
He is the sole Rangers boss to have lifted the championship since the great Walter Smith. That experience could be difficult to overlook for an under-pressure Rangers leadership.