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Steven Gerrard is in the spotlight of discussion after Rangers dismissed Russell Martin on Sunday, and the ex-coach is set to talk about a possible return with the club's leadership.

The decision-makers at Rangers announced that a "thorough, thoughtful hiring procedure" is currently underway.

Additional names are set to be reviewed, however if the former Liverpool and England captain is open to a second stint at Ibrox, is the job essentially his?

The 45-year-old manager has recently mentioned about “unfinished business” in management and disclosed he has begun approaching potential members for his coaching team.

In a latest audio interview with the former defender, which seemed to be filmed before Martin's brief tenure ended, Gerrard expressed he desired “to be at a team that's set to compete to win because I believe that fits me more”.

He continued: “If the suitable offer arrives, the appropriate team, the correct opportunity, and I've got my people set, which I will have at a future date, I'll take that challenge on because it's part of my nature.”

Gerrard's Record at Rangers in Initial Period

Having acquired knowledge as a academy manager at Anfield, Gerrard accepted his first managerial position in the summer of 2018.

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

After finishing nine and 13 points behind Celtic in his initial pair of seasons, Gerrard led Rangers to their first top-flight championship in a ten years, which coincidentally prevent their Glasgow rivals an unprecedented tenth consecutive win.

And he achieved it in style, with his team undefeated in the process.

Rangers won all of their home games, netted 92 goals and allowed a only 13.

The drawback was that it came against a backdrop of Covid and empty stadiums.

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

What Was Gerrard's Derby Record Perform?

In stark contrast to Martin's unhappy spell, Gerrard hit the ground running at Rangers, remaining 12 games without defeat until his initial trip to Celtic Park.

In his debut season the Old Firm honours were even, each side securing two domestic wins, with Rangers having last beaten Celtic in 2012.

Two losses to Celtic occurred in the next truncated season, after which Rangers securing a victory in the eastern part of Glasgow for the initial occasion since 2010.

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

Rangers progressed through four stages of qualifying to enter the main phase of the Europa League in Gerrard's first season.

In the 2019-20 campaign, they progressed to the knockout rounds of the identical tournament, being eliminated to the German side in the round of 16, with their journey ending at the same stage the next year.

What Led Gerrard Depart Rangers?

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

He left Rangers with a lead ahead of Celtic at the top of the table – but their local opponents would claw that back to prevail by the identical gap.

The attraction of the English top flight is strong and it may have been seen as the next logical step on a dream comeback to Liverpool at a point when his coaching reputation was high.

“Steven and his coaching team have ensured that the club is undoubtedly in a better place today than it was three-and-a-half years ago,” commented at the time Rangers football executive Ross Wilson.

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

What Was Gerrard's Record at Aston Villa and in Saudi Arabia?

Gerrard did not last a year at Aston Villa.

Up and down results yielded a 14th-place finish at the end of season 2021-22 before a 3-0 defeat at Craven Cottage placed them in 17th in October 2022 when he was sacked.

Across 2022, he won only eight of his 31 games, suffering defeat in 15.

He moved to the Middle East in July 2023 when he took over at Al-Ettifaq.

His latest role lasted a year and a half and he departed with the team sitting 12th in the Saudi league, just five points above the drop zone.

“Overall, I have gained valuable experience, and it's been a positive journey for me and for my family,” 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 may give certain pause for thought and the individual may have concerns over taking over a struggling team, but Gerrard likely has the personality to manage such a high-profile post.

He is the only Rangers manager to have lifted the league trophy since the great Walter Smith. That experience might well be hard to ignore for an under-pressure Rangers leadership.