Gary McAllister and Jermain Defoe say ‘yes’ to a Rangers return | OneFootball

Both Gary McAllister and Jermain Defoe have confirmed that they would be interested in returning to Rangers under Steven Gerrard’s counsel as part of a new management team. The two former internationals, Scotland and England respectively, were previously part of the set-up at Ibrox under Gerrard, who has been heavily linked with a Steven Gerrard Rangers return in recent days. We will have more information on that in due course, but for now we can confirm that McAllister and Defoe have both said a resounding yes, especially in Defoe’s case.

Mixed memories of Defoe’s time at Ibrox

Now, we have misgivings about Defoe. In one sense, he was a great acquisition in terms of his name, and for the first six months to a year of his playing time here, Defoe was very impressive. Who could forget that goal against Livingston? However, it is also worth noting that once the former sporting director Ross Wilson installed him randomly as a coach, Defoe’s influence and indeed attitude dropped at Ibrox.

Instead of being there for match day as an assistant coach, Defoe ran off to Sky Sports to pundit. This was not a good look for a professional at all. Fans tried to defend it by saying he must have had permission, but even that is not justification. Why would you choose to be a Sky Sports pundit over your day job, which is coaching Rangers? It was a poor call, and we have definitely had an issue with that ever since.

McAllister’s quiet professionalism

Fellow coach Gary McAllister has also said an indirect yes to the same thing. McAllister was always a steady hand in the dugout, composed and calm, providing balance to Gerrard’s energy and authority. If Gerrard does come back as manager, these two will almost certainly be part of his team. Michael Beale almost certainly will not. We do not think we will ever see Beale at Ibrox again.

A dream team or nostalgia trip?

Many are talking about a dream team of Gerrard as manager, Barry Ferguson, Allan McGregor, Neil McCann, Defoe and McAllister all as assistant coaches. We must admit, that would scream of Rangers. Would it be good enough tactically though? Would it have the nous and the coaching quality to make the players better? We are not sure about that one.

Either way, these are very interesting times at Ibrox, and if a Steven Gerrard Rangers return truly materialises, the club could be about to enter a new era under familiar faces. The Steven Gerrard Rangers return talk is gathering pace, and fans are watching closely.