🔗 Share this article Which Lessons Can We Take Away from Steven Gerrard's Tenure as Glasgow Rangers Head Coach? Steven Gerrard holding the league trophy in May 2021 Steven Gerrard has been at the center of conversation since Rangers parted ways with Russell Martin on Sunday, while the ex-coach will talk about a possible return with the club's owners. Those in charge at Ibrox have stated that a "comprehensive, thoughtful hiring process" is now in progress. Additional names are set to be considered, but if the former Liverpool and England captain is willing to a second stint at Ibrox, could the position as good as his? The 45-year-old coach lately spoken about “unfinished business” in coaching and disclosed he has started contacting prospective members for his backroom team. In a recent audio discussion with Rio Ferdinand, which seemed to be filmed prior to Martin's brief tenure concluded, Gerrard stated he desired “to be at a team that's set to challenge to win because I believe that fits me more”. He added: “If the suitable offer comes my way, the appropriate team, the correct opportunity, and I've got my people set, which I plan to have at some point, I'll accept that role because it's in me.” Performance at Rangers in His First Stint Having acquired knowledge as a academy manager at Liverpool, Gerrard took on his maiden coaching role in the summer of 2018. Over three complete seasons at Rangers, he secured only a single title – but it proved significant. After finishing 13 and nine points behind Celtic in his initial pair of seasons, Gerrard led Rangers to their first premiership title in a ten years, which coincidentally prevent their Glasgow rivals an historic tenth consecutive title. And he achieved it in style, with his team undefeated in the process. Rangers triumphed in all of their domestic games, netted 92 goals and conceded a only 13. The drawback was that it occurred amid of the pandemic and fanless grounds. It continues to be Rangers' only league triumph since 2010-11. What Was Gerrard's Old Firm Record Perform? In stark contrast to Martin's unhappy experience, Gerrard hit the ground running at Rangers, remaining 12 games unbeaten until his initial trip to Celtic Park. In his first season the Old Firm honours were even, each side securing two home wins, with Rangers having last beaten Celtic in 2012. A pair of defeats to Celtic occurred in the next shortened season, after which Rangers winning in the eastern part of Glasgow for the first time since 2010. After that, Gerrard remained undefeated in Old Firm clashes, 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 the 2019-20 campaign, they advanced to the knockout rounds of the same competition, losing out to Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16, with their journey concluding at the same stage the next year. What Led Gerrard Depart Rangers? Aston Villa came calling in late 2021, paying £4.5m in compensation. He departed Rangers with a lead ahead of Celtic at the summit of the standings – but their local opponents would recover to win by the same margin. The attraction of the Premier League is strong and it may have been seen as the next logical step on a dream return to Liverpool at a time when his coaching reputation was high. “Steven and his coaching team have made sure that the team is undoubtedly 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 facilities and to make the club win again.” 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 performances yielded a mid-table position at the end of season 2021-22 before a three-goal defeat at Fulham left them in 17th in October 2022 when he was sacked. Across 2022, he secured just eight of his 31 games, losing 15. He transferred to the Middle East in summer 2023 when he took over at Al-Ettifaq. His latest role continued for a year and a half and he departed with the team placed in 12th in the Saudi Pro League, only five points clear of the relegation zone. “In summary, I have learned a lot, and it's been a positive journey personally and for my family,” he said in late January. “But soccer is unpredictable, and sometimes things don't go the way we hope.” Those post-Ibrox exploits may give certain hesitation and the individual might harbor concerns over inheriting a underperforming squad, but Gerrard likely has the character to handle such a prominent post. He is the only Rangers boss to have lifted the championship since the great Walter Smith. That achievement might well be hard to ignore for an pressured Ibrox board.