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The former Liverpool captain has been in the spotlight of discussion since Rangers dismissed Russell Martin on Sunday, and the former manager is set to talk about a potential return with the team's leadership.

The decision-makers at Rangers have stated that a "comprehensive, thoughtful hiring procedure" is now underway.

Additional names will be considered, however if the former Liverpool and England skipper is open to a return spell at Ibrox, could the position as good as his?

The mid-forties coach has recently mentioned about “remaining goals” in management and disclosed he has begun contacting prospective staff for his backroom team.

In a recent audio interview with the former defender, appearing to be recorded prior to Martin's short tenure concluded, Gerrard stated he wanted “to be at a team that's set to compete to win because I believe that fits me better”.

He continued: “If the suitable offer comes my way, the right club, the correct opportunity, and I've got my people set, which I plan to have at some point, I'll accept that role because it's in me.”

Gerrard's Record at Rangers in Initial Period

Having acquired experience as a youth development coach at Liverpool, Gerrard accepted his first managerial position in the mid-year of 2018.

During three full campaigns at Rangers, he won only a single trophy – but it proved significant.

After finishing nine and 13 points behind Celtic in his initial pair of campaigns, Gerrard guided Rangers to their first top-flight title in a ten years, which just happened to deny their Old Firm rivals an unprecedented 10-in-a-row win.

And he did it impressively, with his team unbeaten throughout.

Rangers won all of their home games, scored 92 goals and conceded a only 13.

The downside was that it came against a backdrop of the pandemic and empty stadiums.

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

What Was Gerrard's Old Firm Record Look?

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

In his debut campaign the Old Firm honours were even, each side earning two domestic victories, with Rangers having previously defeated Celtic in 2012.

Two losses to Celtic occurred in the following truncated season, followed by Rangers securing a victory in the eastern part of Glasgow for the first time since 2010.

After that, Gerrard stayed unbeaten in Old Firm clashes, claiming five additional and drawing once.

Rangers progressed through four stages of preliminaries to reach the main phase of the Europa League in Gerrard's debut season.

In 2019-20, they advanced to the knockout rounds of the identical competition, being eliminated to the German side in the last 16, with their run ending at the same stage the next year.

What Led Gerrard Depart Rangers?

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

He left Rangers with a lead clear of Celtic at the summit of the standings – but their local opponents would claw that back to prevail by the same margin.

The lure of the English top flight is powerful and it may have been viewed as the next logical step on a dream comeback to Liverpool at a time when his coaching reputation was at its peak.

“Steven and his coaching team have ensured that the team is clearly in a better place 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 update our facilities and to return the team to winning ways.”

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

Gerrard did not last a year at Aston Villa.

Up and down performances resulted in a mid-table position at the conclusion of the 2021-22 campaign before a three-goal defeat at Fulham placed them 17th in October 2022 when he was dismissed.

Across 2022, he secured only eight of his 31 games, losing 15.

He transferred to Saudi Arabia in summer 2023 when he took over at the Saudi club.

His latest role lasted a year and a half and he moved on with the club sitting in 12th in the Saudi Pro League, just five points clear of the drop zone.

“In summary, I have gained valuable experience, and it's been a beneficial experience for me and for my loved ones,” he said 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 hesitation and the individual may have concerns over taking over a underperforming squad, but Gerrard likely has the character to manage such a prominent post.

He is the sole Rangers boss to have won the league trophy since the great Walter Smith. That achievement might well be hard to ignore for an under-pressure Rangers leadership.