Which Lessons Should We Learn from Gerrard's Time as Glasgow Rangers Head Coach?
Steven Gerrard is at the center of discussion after Rangers parted ways with Russell Martin on Sunday, while the ex-coach 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.
Other candidates will be considered, but if the former Anfield and Three Lions skipper is open to a return spell at Ibrox, is the job essentially his?
The mid-forties manager has recently spoken about “remaining goals” in coaching and disclosed he has started contacting potential staff for his coaching team.
In a latest podcast discussion with Rio Ferdinand, which seemed to be recorded prior to Martin's short reign concluded, Gerrard stated he wanted “to be at a team that's going to compete to win because I believe that suits me better”.
He continued: “If the right call arrives, the appropriate team, 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 part of my nature.”
Gerrard's Record at Rangers in His First Stint
After gaining experience as a youth development manager at Anfield, Gerrard accepted his maiden coaching position in the summer of 2018.
Over three complete campaigns at Rangers, he secured just one trophy – however it proved significant.
Following placements of 13 and nine points after Celtic in his initial pair of campaigns, Gerrard guided Rangers to their maiden top-flight championship in a decade, which coincidentally prevent their Old Firm rivals an unprecedented tenth consecutive win.
And he did it impressively, with his team unbeaten in the process.
Rangers won all of their home games, netted 92 goals and allowed a mere 13.
The downside was that it came amid of Covid and empty stadiums.
It remains Rangers' only title success since 2010-11.
How Did Gerrard's Derby Record Look?
In stark contrast to Martin's unhappy experience, Gerrard hit the ground running at Rangers, going 12 games unbeaten until his first visit to Celtic Park.
In his first season the derby honours were even, each side earning two home wins, with Rangers having previously defeated Celtic in 2012.
A pair of defeats to Celtic came in the next shortened season, after which Rangers securing a victory in the east end of Glasgow for the initial occasion since 2010.
After that, Gerrard remained undefeated in Old Firm clashes, claiming five more and drawing once.
Rangers came through four rounds of qualifying to enter the group stage of the European competition in Gerrard's first season.
In 2019-20, they advanced to the elimination stage of the same tournament, losing out to Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16, with their run concluding at the same stage the next year.
What Led Gerrard Leave Rangers?
Aston Villa came calling in November 2021, paying £4.5m in fees.
He left Rangers four points ahead of Celtic at the summit of the table – but their local opponents would recover to prevail by the identical gap.
The lure of the Premier League is powerful and it could have been seen as the natural progression on a dream return to Anfield at a time 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 three-and-a-half years ago,” commented then Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson.
“We have had a desire to move Rangers forward, to update 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 Aston Villa.
Up and down performances yielded a 14th-place finish at the end of season 2021-22 before a 3-0 defeat at Craven Cottage placed them in 17th in October 2022 when he was dismissed.
Across 2022, he secured just eight of his 31 games, suffering defeat in 15.
He moved to Saudi Arabia in July 2023 when he assumed control at the Saudi club.
His latest role continued for a year and a half and he moved on with the team sitting in 12th in the Saudi Pro League, just five points above the drop zone.
“Overall, I have learned a lot, and it's been a positive journey for me and for my loved ones,” he remarked in late January. “But football is uncertain, and at times things don't go the way we want.”
These post-Ibrox experiences could cause some hesitation and the man himself might harbor doubts over taking over a underperforming squad, but Gerrard probably has the character to manage such a prominent position.
He is the sole Rangers manager to have lifted the championship since the legendary Walter Smith. That achievement could be hard to ignore for an pressured Rangers leadership.
