Rangers eye sensational Steven Gerrard return as top managerial target | OneFootball

Rangers have identified former Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard as their primary target for their vacant managerial role.

According to BBC, the Gers are only waiting to see if the former Aston Villa and Al Ettifaq head coach is open to making a sensational return to Ibrox Stadium before making their move.

Gerrard led Rangers to the Scottish Premiership title in 2021, ending their decade-long wait for the holy grail and did so with a sensational unbeaten record.

He has now become the leading candidate to replace Russell Martin, who was sent packing following a dreadful start to the season.

Martin was sacked after winning just five of his 17 matches in charge, and last weekend’s disappointing 1-1 draw against a lowly Falkirk side – in their first top-flight campaign in 15 years – proved to be the final straw.

The club’s new American owners have wasted no time exploring potential replacements, and Gerrard is at the top of their extensive shortlist.

Rangers are hoping to make an appointment before the end of the international break.

Gerrard has been out of a job since he left Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ettifaq in January. He is now ready to return to management, but will only join a club that’s capable of competing for silverware.

Speaking on Rio Ferdinand’s podcast, the 45-year-old manager admitted that he received “five or six really interesting phone calls” since leaving the Middle East.

The only reason he couldn’t accept any offers was that he didn’t have a full coaching team available.

“I haven’t been ready because I haven’t got that [coaching] team set around me,” he said. “So unfortunately, those opportunities have come at the wrong time.

“But if the right call comes my way, the right club, 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 in me.”

Gerrard spent four years at Rangers during his first spell and built a team that only briefly halted Celtic’s dominance before leaving for Villa in 2021.