The factors standing in the way of Steven Gerrard’s emotional Rangers return
Rangers’ hierarchy has multiple hurdles to overcome if Steven Gerrard is the one to replace Russell Martin at Ibrox.
Martin was sacked after 123 days as Rangers manager, eventually bringing an end to the former Southampton figure’s hellish tenure in Scotland, where he won just five of his 17 matches.
There has been a merry-go-round of managers at Ibrox over the years, and before his departure in 2021, Gerrard was a much-loved figure by the Rangers fanbase, and to many, still is.
He admitted in a recent interview with Rio Ferdinand that he is ready to go back into management after a failed spell in the Saudi Pro League, and that has gotten supporters chatting.
The hierarchy has been left with a difficult search for a new manager, especially with the amount of fan fury inside and outside of Ibrox, but the reaction to Gerrard has been mostly positive.
Steven Gerrard’s family is still based in Bahrain
According to Sky Sports (7 October), the Gers are open to bringing Gerrard back to Ibrox, with the former manager also welcoming the idea of taking over, having previously left in November 2021.
However, it is understood that multiple hurdles need to be jumped before a deal can be struck, with the parties unable to reach an agreement before Martin was appointed in the summer.
Gerrard’s family remains in Bahrain despite him longer being in charge of Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia, and the 45-year-old would also want reassurances that the Gers’ project is right for him.
While it is too soon to place the former Liverpool midfielder in the top spot to take charge at Ibrox, it is reported that Sean Dyche is not in the running for the Rangers job.
What was Gerrard’s previous record at Ibrox?
In just over three years in charge, Gerrard oversaw 193 matches, claiming victory in 125 of those and losing just 26, giving him a win rate of 64.8 per cent.
To put that into context, in his first spell at Celtic Park, Brendan Rodgers finished with a win rate of 69.8 per cent, just five per cent higher than Gerrard’s in fewer matches.
He also brought the Scottish Premiership title back to Ibrox in 2020-21, doing so for the first time since the 2010-11 campaign, making a real statement to their Old Firm rivals.
However, Aston Villa came calling for his signature, and it was very difficult for him to turn down a Premier League opportunity. That being said, he could be ready for a return to Scotland.