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The former Liverpool captain is in the spotlight of conversation since Rangers parted ways with Russell Martin on Sunday, while the ex-coach is set to talk about a possible return with the club's owners.

The decision-makers at Rangers announced that a "thorough, considered recruitment procedure" is now in progress.

Other candidates are set to be considered, but if ex Liverpool and England captain is willing to a second stint at the club, could the position as good as his?

The 45-year-old manager lately mentioned about “remaining goals” in coaching and disclosed he has begun contacting prospective staff for his backroom team.

In a recent podcast interview with Rio Ferdinand, appearing to be recorded before Martin's brief reign concluded, Gerrard stated he desired “to be at a team that's set to compete to win because I believe that suits me better”.

He added: “If the suitable offer comes my way, the appropriate team, the right challenge, and I've got my people set, which I will have at some point, I'll take that challenge on because it's part of my nature.”

Performance at Rangers in Initial Period

Having acquired knowledge as a youth development coach at Liverpool, Gerrard took on his maiden coaching position in the mid-year of 2018.

Over three full campaigns at Rangers, he secured only a single title – but it was a big one.

After finishing 13 and nine points after their rivals in his first two seasons, Gerrard led Rangers to their first top-flight title in a decade, which just happened to prevent their Glasgow rivals an historic 10-in-a-row win.

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

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

The drawback was that it came amid of the pandemic and fanless grounds.

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

What Was Gerrard's Derby Record Look?

In sharp difference to Martin's disappointing experience, Gerrard started strongly at Rangers, remaining 12 games without defeat until his first visit to Celtic Park.

In his first campaign the derby honours were shared, each side earning two domestic wins, with Rangers having previously defeated Celtic in 2012.

Two losses to Celtic came in the following shortened season, after which Rangers winning in the eastern part of Glasgow for the first time since 2010.

After that, Gerrard stayed undefeated in Old Firm clashes, winning five additional and tying once.

Rangers progressed through four stages of preliminaries to enter the group stage of the European competition in Gerrard's first season.

In 2019-20, they advanced to the knockout rounds of the identical tournament, losing out to the German side in the last 16, with their journey concluding at the identical round the next year.

Why Did Gerrard Depart Rangers?

Aston Villa came calling in late 2021, paying £4.5m in compensation.

He departed Rangers four points ahead of Celtic at the top of the table – however their local opponents would recover to prevail 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 dream return to Liverpool 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 stronger position today than it was three-and-a-half years ago,” commented at the time Rangers football executive Ross Wilson.

“We have shared a goal to move Rangers forward, to modernise our facilities and to make the club win again.”

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

Gerrard did not last a year at Aston Villa.

Up and down performances yielded a 14th-place position at the end of season 2021-22 before a three-goal defeat at Craven Cottage placed them in 17th in autumn 2022 when he was dismissed.

During 2022, he secured just eight of his 31 games, losing 15.

He transferred to the Middle East in summer 2023 when he assumed control at the Saudi club.

His latest role lasted 18 months and he departed with the club sitting 12th in the Saudi Pro League, only five points above the drop zone.

“Overall, I have gained valuable experience, and it's been a beneficial experience personally and for my family,” he remarked in the end of January. “But soccer is unpredictable, and sometimes events don't unfold the way we want.”

These post-Ibrox exploits could cause certain pause for thought and the individual might harbor concerns over taking over a underperforming team, but Gerrard probably has the personality to manage such a prominent position.

He is the only Rangers boss to have won the championship since the great Walter Smith. That experience could be hard to ignore for an pressured Rangers leadership.