Which Insights Should We Learn from Steven Gerrard's Time as Glasgow Rangers Head Coach?

Steven Gerrard with the Scottish Premiership trophy in May 2021
Steven Gerrard lifting the league trophy in May 2021

The former Liverpool captain has been at the center of conversation since Rangers parted ways with Russell Martin on Sunday, while the ex-coach will discuss a potential comeback with the club's owners.

The decision-makers at Ibrox announced that a "comprehensive, considered recruitment process" is currently in progress.

Additional names are set to be considered, but if the former Anfield and Three Lions captain is willing to a return spell at Ibrox, could the position essentially his?

The 45-year-old coach lately mentioned about “unfinished business” in management and revealed he has started approaching prospective members for his coaching team.

In a recent podcast interview with Rio Ferdinand, which seemed to be filmed before Martin's brief tenure concluded, Gerrard expressed he desired “to be at a club that's going to compete to win because I think that fits me more”.

He added: “If the right call comes my way, the right club, the correct opportunity, 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 Initial Period

Having acquired experience as a youth development manager at Liverpool, Gerrard took on his first managerial role in the mid-year of 2018.

During three complete seasons at Ibrox, he won only a single trophy – however it was a big one.

After finishing nine and 13 points behind their rivals in his initial pair of seasons, Gerrard led Rangers to their maiden premiership championship in a ten years, which coincidentally deny their Old Firm rivals an historic 10-in-a-row title.

And he did it in style, with his team undefeated throughout.

Rangers triumphed in all of their domestic games, scored 92 goals and allowed a only 13.

The drawback was that it occurred amid of Covid and fanless grounds.

It remains Rangers' sole league triumph since 2010-11.

How Did Gerrard's Derby Record Look?

In sharp difference to Martin's unhappy spell, Gerrard hit the ground running at Rangers, remaining 12 games without defeat until his initial trip to Parkhead.

In his debut campaign the derby results were shared, each side earning two home wins, with Rangers having previously defeated Celtic in 2012.

A pair of defeats to Celtic occurred in the next shortened season, after which Rangers winning in the east end of Glasgow for the first time since 2010.

After that, Gerrard remained unbeaten in derbies, winning 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 2019-20, they advanced to the knockout rounds of the same competition, being eliminated to Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16, with their journey concluding 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 clear of Celtic at the summit of the standings – however their city rivals would claw that back to prevail by the identical gap.

The lure of the Premier League is powerful and it may have been viewed as the next logical step on a dream comeback to Anfield at a point when his managerial stock was at its peak.

“Steven and his backroom staff have ensured that the club is clearly in a stronger position today than it was several seasons ago,” said at the time Rangers football executive Ross Wilson.

“We have had a goal to advance the club, to modernise our infrastructure and to return the team to winning ways.”

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

Gerrard did not last a year at Villa Park.

Inconsistent performances yielded a 14th-place finish at the end of season 2021-22 before a three-goal defeat at Craven Cottage left them 17th in autumn 2022 when he was sacked.

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

He moved to Saudi Arabia in summer 2023 when he assumed control at the Saudi club.

His most recent job lasted a year and a half and he departed with the club sitting 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 experience for me and for my family,” he remarked in late January. “But soccer is uncertain, and sometimes things don't go the way we want.”

Those post-Ibrox experiences could cause some hesitation and the individual may have concerns over taking over a struggling team, but Gerrard probably has the personality to handle such a prominent post.

He is the only Rangers manager to have lifted the league trophy since the legendary Walter Smith. That experience might well be difficult to overlook for an pressured Ibrox board.

Jerry Cordova
Jerry Cordova

A passionate gaming enthusiast and expert reviewer with years of experience in the online casino industry.

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