What Lessons Can We Take Away from Steven Gerrard's Tenure as Rangers Head Coach?

Steven Gerrard is at the center of discussion since Rangers parted ways with Russell Martin on the weekend, while the ex-coach is set to talk about a potential comeback with the club's leadership.

Those in charge at Ibrox have stated that a "comprehensive, thoughtful recruitment process" is currently underway.

Additional names will be considered, however if the former Anfield and Three Lions skipper is willing to a second stint at Ibrox, is the job essentially his?

The 45-year-old manager has recently mentioned about “unfinished business” in management and disclosed he has started contacting potential staff for his coaching team.

In a latest audio interview with the former defender, which seemed to be recorded prior to Martin's brief reign concluded, Gerrard expressed he wanted “to be at a team that's going to compete to win because I think that suits me more”.

He added: “If the right call arrives, the appropriate team, the right challenge, and I've assembled my staff, which I will have at a future date, I'll accept that role because it's in me.”

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 seasons at Ibrox, he won only a single title – but it was a big one.

Following placements of 13 and nine points after Celtic in his first two seasons, Gerrard guided Rangers to their maiden top-flight championship in a ten years, which coincidentally prevent their Glasgow rivals an historic 10-in-a-row title.

And he did it in style, with his team unbeaten in the process.

Rangers won all of their home games, netted 92 goals and conceded a mere 13.

The downside was that it came against a backdrop of the pandemic and empty stadiums.

It continues to be Rangers' sole league triumph since the 2010-11 season.

How Did Gerrard's Old Firm Record Look?

In sharp difference to Martin's disappointing spell, Gerrard hit the ground running at Rangers, going 12 games without defeat until his first visit to Parkhead.

In his debut season the Old Firm honours were even, each side earning two home wins, with Rangers having previously defeated Celtic in 2012.

Two losses to Celtic occurred 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 remained undefeated in derbies, claiming five additional and drawing once.

Rangers came through four stages of preliminaries to reach the group stage of the Europa League in Gerrard's debut season.

In the 2019-20 campaign, they advanced to the elimination stage of the identical competition, being eliminated to Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16, with their run concluding at the identical round the following season.

Why Did Gerrard Depart Rangers?

Aston Villa made an approach in November 2021, forking out £4.5m in fees.

He left Rangers four points ahead of Celtic at the top of the standings – however their city rivals would claw that back to prevail by the identical gap.

The attraction of the Premier League is powerful and it could have been viewed as the natural progression on a fairytale comeback to Liverpool at a time when his managerial stock was high.

“Steven and his backroom staff have ensured that the team is clearly in a better place today than it was three-and-a-half years ago,” commented then Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson.

“We have shared a desire to advance the club, to update our infrastructure and to return the team to winning ways.”

What Was Gerrard's Record at Villa & Al-Ettifaq?

Gerrard did not last a full season at Aston Villa.

Inconsistent results yielded a mid-table position at the conclusion of the 2021-22 campaign before a 3-0 loss at Craven Cottage left them in 17th in October 2022 when he was dismissed.

Across 2022, he secured only eight of his 31 games, suffering defeat in 15.

He transferred to the Middle East in July 2023 when he assumed control at the Saudi club.

His latest job lasted 18 months and he departed with the team placed in 12th in the Saudi league, only five points above the drop zone.

“In summary, I have gained valuable experience, and it's been a positive journey for me and for my family,” he said in late January. “But football is unpredictable, and sometimes events don't unfold the way we want.”

Those after Rangers exploits may give some hesitation and the man himself may have concerns over inheriting a underperforming team, but Gerrard probably has the character to manage such a high-profile position.

He is the sole Rangers manager to have lifted the championship since the great Walter Smith. That achievement could be hard to ignore for an pressured Rangers leadership.