What Lessons Can We Learn from Gerrard's Time as Rangers Head Coach?
The former Liverpool captain is in the spotlight of discussion since Rangers dismissed Russell Martin on Sunday, while the ex-coach is set to discuss a possible comeback with the club's leadership.
Those in charge at Rangers announced that a "comprehensive, considered recruitment process" is currently underway.
Other candidates are set to be considered, but if the former Liverpool and England skipper is open to a return spell at the club, could the position essentially his?
The mid-forties coach lately spoken about “unfinished business” in management and disclosed he has begun approaching prospective staff for his coaching team.
In a latest audio interview with Rio Ferdinand, which seemed to be recorded before Martin's short tenure concluded, Gerrard stated he desired “to be at a club that's set to challenge to win because I believe that fits me better”.
He added: “If the right call comes my way, the appropriate team, the correct opportunity, and I've assembled my staff, which I plan to have at a future date, I'll take that challenge on because it's part of my nature.”
Performance at Rangers in Initial Period
Having acquired knowledge as a academy coach at Liverpool, Gerrard took on his first managerial position in the mid-year of 2018.
Over three full campaigns at Rangers, he secured only a single title – but it proved significant.
After finishing nine and 13 points after their rivals in his initial pair of campaigns, Gerrard led Rangers to their maiden premiership title in a decade, which coincidentally prevent their Old Firm rivals an historic 10-in-a-row title.
And he achieved it impressively, 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 against a backdrop of the pandemic and fanless grounds.
It remains Rangers' only title success since the 2010-11 season.
How Did Gerrard's Derby Record Look?
In sharp difference to Martin's disappointing experience, Gerrard hit the ground running at Rangers, remaining 12 games unbeaten until his first visit to Celtic Park.
In his first season the derby honours were even, each side earning two domestic victories, with Rangers having last beaten Celtic in 2012.
A pair of defeats to Celtic occurred in the following shortened season, after which Rangers winning in the eastern part of Glasgow for the first time since 2010.
After that, Gerrard stayed undefeated in derbies, claiming five additional and tying once.
Rangers progressed through four rounds of preliminaries to reach the group stage of the Europa League in Gerrard's debut season.
In 2019-20, 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 Depart Rangers?
The Birmingham club came calling in November 2021, forking out £4.5m in fees.
He left Rangers four points ahead of Celtic at the summit of the standings – however their city rivals would claw that back to win by the identical gap.
The lure of the English top flight is strong and it could have been viewed as the natural progression on a fairytale comeback to Anfield at a point when his coaching reputation was at its peak.
“Steven and his backroom staff have ensured that the club is clearly in a better place today than it was several seasons ago,” said then Rangers football executive Ross Wilson.
“We have had a goal to advance the club, to modernise our facilities and to make the club win again.”
How Did Gerrard's Record at Villa & Al-Ettifaq?
Gerrard did not last a full season at Aston Villa.
Inconsistent performances yielded a mid-table position at the conclusion of season 2021-22 before a 3-0 loss at Craven Cottage left them in 17th in autumn 2022 when he was sacked.
During 2022, he secured only eight of his 31 games, losing 15.
He transferred to the Middle East in July 2023 when he assumed control at the Saudi club.
His latest job continued for a year and a half and he departed with the club placed 12th in the Saudi league, just five points clear of the drop zone.
“Overall, I have gained valuable experience, and it's been a positive experience personally and for my family,” he said in late January. “But football is unpredictable, and at times things don't go the way we want.”
These after Rangers exploits may give certain pause for thought and the man himself might harbor concerns over inheriting a underperforming team, but Gerrard probably has the personality to handle such a prominent position.
He is the sole Rangers boss to have won the league trophy since the legendary Walter Smith. That achievement might well be hard to ignore for an pressured Ibrox board.
