Everything Steven Gerrard has said about returning to Rangers amid Danny Rohl exit talk
Steven Gerrard is set to be in contention to become the next Rangers manager if Danny Rohl chooses to depart soon.
Rohl's position at Ibrox has been doubted over recent months after Rangers' failure to mount a Premiership title challenge.
He is not set to be sacked by the Gers' chiefs anytime soon, but could move on as Red Bull Salzburg eye a move to make him their next boss.
The Austrian club are reportedly pushing to appoint Rohl, while he is open to such a move after previously working within the Red Bull group at Leipzig.
Gerrard won Rangers fans' hearts for his impressive stint in charge between 2018 and 2021, and recently admitted that he was close to returning last summer.
The ex-Liverpool star will surely be heavily linked with an Ibrox return if Rohl does choose to join Salzburg in the coming days.
He has not held any managerial position since leaving Al-Ettifaq by mutual consent last January.
What has Steven Gerrard said about returning to Rangers?
Rohl was appointed by Rangers last October in the wake of Russell Martin's turbulent few months in charge and subsequent sacking.
Things could have been very different at Ibrox after Gerrard reportedly rejected an approach from Rangers' chiefs to return to the club.
He guided the club to the 2020-21 Premiership title and won a raft of Manager of the Year awards that season before being poached by Aston Villa.
Even though the 46-year-old appreciates Rangers, he admitted in November that the time had not been right for him to return to the club a month previous.
Speaking to TNT Sports, he said: "I had some really positive and interesting talks with the owners, but it felt a bit rushed. I had a lot to think about and a short space of time to give a decision.
"There were a few things I was uncertain about. And if I'm going to take a challenge that big and that important - I've got that affection and connection with Rangers - for me to take that on again it had to be perfect and I had to be 100% ready.
"I have to analyse, is it right for me? Is the timing right and are things perfect for me to be the best version of myself in that job? Unfortunately the timing, it didn't feel right to me. I've got that much respect for Rangers that I wouldn't go in there if I was 80-90% ready, but hopefully one day I'll be more ready and more prepared for it and that chance might come again."
Gerrard appeared on 'The Smith Brothers' podcast in December and addressed the rumours around Rangers once more, saying: "I think I suit a certain job; the passionate crowd - I need to try and feed off that. Something has to match my skillset, if you know what I mean. I am looking for the right match. Rangers was perfect, I was really close to going up there again.
"It's just the timing and a few other situations that weren't aligned. Rangers is my type of club - the fans, the passion, you can feed off it. It certainly suits the way that I go about it, but if something doesn't come or something where I feel like I can compete for the prizes, I am comfortable to do what I am doing."
James Tavernier has already told Rangers why they should re-appoint Gerrard
Gerrard handed Tavernier the captaincy during his time at Ibrox, and the right-back enjoyed some of the best seasons of his career under his guidance.
He became a goal contribution machine while playing for Gerrard and clearly rated him highly during their time working together.
Speaking after his arrival in 2018, Tavernier said: "He has raised the standard higher, which has always needed to be done because it has dropped over the years.
"Straight away, I have noticed the standard and where he wants it, and the boys have responded really well. Even from doing small passing drills and our little boxes, the level has already gone up."
Sources have told Football Insider that Rohl made a mistake with how he treated Tavernier, which is already a clear difference between the two bosses.
An authoritative figure like Gerrard who commands respect and has the accolades to back it up could be exactly what Rangers need if Rohl does leave this summer.