Steven Gerrard Wouldn’t Be The First Rangers Manager to Come Back | OneFootball

Comparing Steven Gerrard to Walter Smith is a formidable task, given Smith’s legendary status at Rangers. Smith managed the club in two spells, collecting 21 major honours including nine league titles and a UEFA Cup final appearance. His name is etched into Ibrox folklore, and anyone daring to step into his shadow faces the loftiest of expectations. Yet, Steven Gerrard’s first spell at Ibrox offered a glimmer that he could etch his own legacy—if given time and backing.

Gerrard inherited a broken club in 2018 and began the arduous climb back to the top. His crowning moment came in 2021 with Rangers’ 55th league title, ending Celtic’s stranglehold and going unbeaten in the process. European progression was also admirable, with Gerrard overseeing multiple campaigns that brought back continental credibility. As speculation now mounts about his return, Sky Sports’ confirmation that discussions have taken place only adds fuel to the debate—can Gerrard truly follow in Walter’s footsteps?

A recent poll showed 75% of Rangers fans are in favour of his return, despite the controversial manner of his original departure. Some argue that loyalty was compromised, while others maintain the football under Gerrard was the best since the Smith era. It’s a split that reveals the emotional weight of this comparison—and the stakes should he return.

If success is to be measured purely by trophies, Gerrard has a mountain to climb. But if we gauge it by what he built, the progress he sparked, and the hunger he reignited at Ibrox, then his chances of becoming a modern-day Smith aren’t quite as far-fetched. What’s clear is that his unfinished business now hangs in the balance.