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The former Liverpool captain has been in the spotlight of conversation since Rangers parted ways with Russell Martin on Sunday, while the ex-coach is set to talk about a potential comeback with the team's leadership.

The decision-makers at Ibrox have stated that a "thorough, thoughtful hiring process" is now underway.

Additional names will be considered, however if the former Anfield and Three Lions skipper is open to a second stint at the club, is the job as good as his?

The mid-forties manager has recently spoken about “remaining goals” in coaching and revealed he has begun contacting potential staff for his backroom team.

In a recent podcast discussion with the former defender, which seemed to be filmed before Martin's brief reign ended, Gerrard expressed he desired “to be at a team that's going to challenge 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 take that challenge on because it's in me.”

Gerrard's Record at Rangers in Initial Period

Having acquired experience as a youth development coach at Anfield, Gerrard took on his maiden coaching role in the summer of 2018.

Over three complete seasons at Ibrox, he won only a single trophy – but it proved significant.

After finishing 13 and nine points behind Celtic in his first two seasons, Gerrard guided Rangers to their maiden top-flight championship in a ten years, which just happened to deny their Old Firm rivals an historic 10-in-a-row title.

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

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

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

It continues to be Rangers' only title success since 2010-11.

How Did Gerrard's Old Firm Record Perform?

In sharp difference to Martin's unhappy experience, Gerrard hit the ground running at Rangers, remaining 12 games unbeaten until his initial trip to Parkhead.

In his first season the Old Firm honours were even, each side securing two home victories, with Rangers having last beaten Celtic in 2012.

A pair of defeats to Celtic came in the next shortened season, after which Rangers winning in the eastern part of Glasgow for the first time since 2010.

From then on, Gerrard remained undefeated in Old Firm clashes, winning five additional and drawing once.

Rangers came through four rounds of preliminaries to reach the main phase of the European competition in Gerrard's first season.

In 2019-20, they advanced to the knockout rounds of the same competition, losing out to Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16, with their journey ending at the identical round the following season.

What Led Gerrard Depart Rangers?

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

He departed Rangers four points ahead of Celtic at the summit of the standings – but their city rivals would claw that back to win by the identical gap.

The lure of the Premier League is strong and it may have been viewed as the next logical step on a dream return to Anfield at a time when his coaching reputation was high.

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

“We have shared a desire to advance the club, to update our infrastructure and to make the club win again.”

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

Gerrard failed to complete a year at Villa Park.

Up and down results yielded a mid-table position at the end of the 2021-22 campaign before a three-goal defeat at Craven Cottage left them in 17th in autumn 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 assumed control at Al-Ettifaq.

His most recent job continued for 18 months and he departed with the team sitting 12th in the Saudi league, only five points clear of the drop zone.

“Overall, I have gained valuable experience, and it's been a beneficial experience personally and for my loved ones,” he said in the end of January. “But soccer is uncertain, and at times events don't unfold the way we hope.”

These after Rangers experiences could cause some pause for thought and the individual may have doubts over inheriting a underperforming team, but Gerrard probably has the character to handle such a high-profile post.

He is the sole Rangers boss to have won the championship since the great Walter Smith. That experience might well be hard to ignore for an pressured Ibrox board.