What Lessons Should We Learn from Steven Gerrard's Time as Glasgow Rangers Head Coach?
The former Liverpool captain is at the center of discussion after Rangers parted ways with Russell Martin on the weekend, and the ex-coach is set to discuss a possible comeback with the team's owners.
The decision-makers at Rangers announced that a "thorough, thoughtful hiring procedure" is now in progress.
Other candidates are set to be considered, however if the former Anfield and Three Lions skipper is open to a second stint at the club, could the position as good as his?
The mid-forties coach lately mentioned about “unfinished business” in coaching and disclosed he has begun approaching potential staff for his backroom team.
In a latest podcast discussion with the former defender, which seemed to be recorded before Martin's brief reign ended, Gerrard stated he desired “to be at a team that's going to compete to win because I believe that fits me more”.
He continued: “If the right call comes my way, the appropriate team, the right challenge, and I've assembled my staff, which I will have at some point, I'll take that challenge on because it's in me.”
Performance at Rangers in His First Stint
Having acquired knowledge as a youth development manager at Anfield, Gerrard accepted his first managerial position in the summer of 2018.
Over three full seasons at Rangers, he won only a single title – however it proved significant.
After finishing nine and 13 points behind their rivals in his initial pair of seasons, Gerrard led Rangers to their maiden top-flight title in a ten years, which coincidentally prevent their Old Firm 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 allowed a mere 13.
The downside was that it came amid of the pandemic and fanless grounds.
It remains Rangers' sole title success since 2010-11.
What Was Gerrard's Old Firm Record Perform?
In sharp difference to Martin's disappointing spell, Gerrard started strongly at Rangers, going 12 games without defeat until his first visit to Celtic Park.
In his debut campaign the Old Firm honours were even, each side securing two home 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 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 enter the group stage of the European competition in Gerrard's debut season.
In 2019-20, they progressed to the knockout rounds of the same tournament, losing out to Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16, with their run ending at the identical round the next year.
What Led Gerrard Leave Rangers?
The Birmingham club 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 table – but their local opponents would recover to win by the identical gap.
The lure of the English top flight is powerful and it could have been seen as the natural progression on a fairytale comeback to Anfield at a point when his coaching reputation was at its peak.
“Steven and his coaching team have made sure 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 desire to advance the club, to update our facilities and to return the team to winning ways.”
What Was Gerrard's Record at Aston Villa and in Saudi Arabia?
Gerrard failed to complete a full season at Aston Villa.
Up and down results yielded a mid-table position at the end of the 2021-22 campaign before a 3-0 loss at Craven Cottage placed them in 17th in autumn 2022 when he was dismissed.
During 2022, he won just eight of his 31 games, suffering defeat in 15.
He transferred to the Middle East in July 2023 when he took over at Al-Ettifaq.
His latest role continued for 18 months and he departed with the club placed in 12th in the Saudi Pro League, only five points above the drop zone.
“Overall, I have learned a lot, and it's been a positive experience personally and for my family,” he said in late January. “But soccer is uncertain, and sometimes things don't go the way we hope.”
These post-Ibrox exploits may give some pause for thought and the man himself may have concerns over inheriting a struggling squad, but Gerrard likely has the character to handle such a high-profile post.
He is the only Rangers manager to have lifted the championship since the great Walter Smith. That achievement might well be difficult to overlook for an under-pressure Rangers leadership.