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The former Liverpool captain has been at the center of discussion after Rangers parted ways with Russell Martin on Sunday, while the ex-coach is set to discuss a potential comeback with the team's leadership.

The decision-makers at Ibrox announced that a "thorough, considered recruitment process" is currently underway.

Additional names are set to be considered, but if ex Anfield and Three Lions skipper is open to a return spell at Ibrox, could the position as good as his?

The 45-year-old manager lately spoken about “unfinished business” in coaching and revealed he has begun contacting prospective members for his coaching team.

In a recent audio discussion with Rio Ferdinand, appearing to be filmed prior to Martin's short reign concluded, Gerrard expressed he desired “to be at a team that's going to challenge to win because I believe that fits me more”.

He added: “If the right call arrives, the appropriate team, the right challenge, and I've assembled my staff, which I will have at a future date, I'll accept that role because it's part of my nature.”

Performance at Rangers in His First Stint

Having acquired knowledge as a youth development manager at Liverpool, Gerrard took on his maiden coaching role in the mid-year of 2018.

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

After finishing 13 and nine points behind their rivals in his first two seasons, Gerrard guided Rangers to their maiden top-flight championship in a decade, which coincidentally deny their Glasgow rivals an historic tenth consecutive win.

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

Rangers triumphed in all of their domestic games, netted 92 goals and allowed a only 13.

The downside was that it occurred amid of the pandemic and empty stadiums.

It remains Rangers' sole title success since the 2010-11 season.

How Did Gerrard's Old Firm Record Perform?

In stark contrast to Martin's disappointing experience, Gerrard hit the ground running at Rangers, remaining 12 games without defeat until his first visit to Parkhead.

In his debut campaign the derby honours were even, each side earning two home victories, with Rangers having last beaten Celtic in 2012.

A pair of defeats to Celtic came in the next truncated season, followed by Rangers securing a victory in the eastern part of Glasgow for the first time since 2010.

After that, Gerrard stayed undefeated in Old Firm clashes, claiming five more and tying once.

Rangers progressed through four stages of preliminaries to enter the group stage of the Europa League in Gerrard's debut season.

In the 2019-20 campaign, they advanced to the knockout rounds of the identical competition, losing out to the German side in the round of 16, with their journey concluding at the same stage the next year.

Why Did Gerrard Leave Rangers?

The Birmingham club made an approach in November 2021, paying £4.5m in compensation.

He left Rangers with a lead ahead of Celtic at the top of the table – but their local opponents would recover to prevail by the same margin.

The lure of the English top flight is powerful and it may have been seen as the natural progression on a dream return to Liverpool at a time when his managerial stock was high.

“Steven and his backroom staff have ensured that the team is clearly in a stronger position today than it was three-and-a-half years ago,” said at the time Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson.

“We have shared a goal to advance the club, to modernise our facilities and to make the club win again.”

How Did Gerrard's Record at Villa & Al-Ettifaq?

Gerrard failed to complete a full season at Villa Park.

Up and down performances resulted in a mid-table position at the conclusion of season 2021-22 before a 3-0 defeat at Craven Cottage placed them 17th in October 2022 when he was dismissed.

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

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

His latest role continued for 18 months and he moved on with the club sitting in 12th in the Saudi league, only five points above the relegation zone.

“Overall, I have gained valuable experience, and it's been a positive journey for me and for my loved ones,” he remarked in the end of January. “But football is unpredictable, and sometimes things don't go the way we hope.”

These after Rangers exploits may give certain pause for thought and the man himself might harbor concerns over inheriting a underperforming team, but Gerrard probably has the character to handle such a high-profile position.

He is the only Rangers boss to have lifted the league trophy since the legendary Walter Smith. That experience could be hard to ignore for an under-pressure Ibrox board.