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 former manager will talk about a possible comeback with the club's owners.
The decision-makers at Rangers have stated that a "comprehensive, thoughtful hiring procedure" is currently in progress.
Other candidates will be reviewed, but if ex Anfield and Three Lions captain is open to a return spell at the club, is the job as good as his?
The mid-forties manager has recently mentioned about “remaining goals” in management and revealed he has begun approaching potential members for his coaching team.
In a latest audio discussion with the former defender, which seemed to be filmed prior to Martin's short reign concluded, Gerrard expressed he wanted “to be at a club that's set to compete to win because I think that fits me more”.
He added: “If the right call arrives, the appropriate team, the right challenge, and I've got my people set, which I will have at a future date, I'll take that challenge on because it's part of my nature.”
Performance at Rangers in His First Stint
Having acquired experience as a youth development manager at Liverpool, Gerrard took on his maiden coaching role in the mid-year of 2018.
Over three full campaigns at Ibrox, he secured just one trophy – but it proved significant.
Following placements of nine and 13 points after Celtic in his initial pair of seasons, Gerrard led Rangers to their first premiership title in a ten years, which just happened to deny their Old Firm rivals an unprecedented tenth consecutive win.
And he did it impressively, with his team undefeated in the process.
Rangers won all of their home games, scored 92 goals and allowed a only 13.
The downside was that it occurred amid of Covid and empty stadiums.
It remains Rangers' only title success since the 2010-11 season.
How Did Gerrard's Derby Record Perform?
In sharp difference to Martin's disappointing spell, Gerrard started strongly at Rangers, going 12 games without defeat until his initial trip to Parkhead.
In his first campaign the derby honours were shared, each side earning two home wins, with Rangers having previously defeated Celtic in 2012.
Two losses to Celtic came in the next truncated season, followed by Rangers winning in the east end of Glasgow for the initial occasion since 2010.
From then on, Gerrard stayed undefeated in Old Firm clashes, claiming five more and drawing once.
Rangers progressed through four stages of qualifying to enter the group stage of the European competition in Gerrard's first season.
In the 2019-20 campaign, they progressed to the knockout rounds of the same competition, being eliminated to the German side in the round of 16, with their run ending at the same stage the next year.
What Led Gerrard Depart Rangers?
Aston Villa made an approach in November 2021, forking out £4.5m in fees.
He departed Rangers four points ahead of Celtic at the summit of the standings – but their local opponents would claw that back to win by the identical gap.
The attraction of the English top flight is powerful and it may have been seen as the natural progression on a dream return to Liverpool 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,” commented at the time Rangers football executive Ross Wilson.
“We have had a goal to move Rangers forward, to update our infrastructure and to make the club win again.”
How Did Gerrard's Record at Aston Villa and in Saudi Arabia?
Gerrard failed to complete a full season at Aston Villa.
Inconsistent performances yielded a mid-table position at the conclusion of the 2021-22 campaign before a 3-0 loss at Fulham left them 17th in autumn 2022 when he was sacked.
Across 2022, he won just eight of his 31 games, losing 15.
He transferred to the Middle East in July 2023 when he took over at Al-Ettifaq.
His latest job continued for 18 months and he moved on with the club sitting 12th in the Saudi Pro League, just five points clear of the drop zone.
“Overall, I have gained valuable experience, and it's been a beneficial journey for me and for my family,” he said in the end of January. “But soccer is unpredictable, and sometimes things don't go the way we hope.”
These after Rangers experiences could cause certain pause for thought and the man himself may have concerns over taking over a struggling team, but Gerrard likely has the personality to handle such a high-profile position.
He is the sole Rangers boss to have lifted the championship since the great Walter Smith. That achievement might well be difficult to overlook for an under-pressure Rangers leadership.
