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The former Liverpool captain is in the spotlight of conversation after Rangers parted ways with Russell Martin on Sunday, while the ex-coach is set to discuss a potential return with the team's leadership.

Those in charge at Rangers announced that a "thorough, thoughtful hiring procedure" is now underway.

Additional names are set to be reviewed, but if ex Liverpool and England skipper is willing to a second stint at the club, could the position as good as his?

The 45-year-old manager lately mentioned about “unfinished business” in coaching and disclosed he has started contacting potential members for his backroom team.

In a recent audio interview with the former defender, appearing to be recorded prior to Martin's short reign ended, Gerrard expressed he wanted “to be at a team that's going to compete to win because I believe that suits me better”.

He added: “If the suitable offer arrives, the right club, the correct opportunity, and I've got my people set, which I plan to have at a future date, I'll take that challenge on because it's in me.”

Gerrard's Record at Rangers in His First Stint

Having acquired experience as a youth development manager at Liverpool, Gerrard accepted his maiden coaching role in the summer of 2018.

During three full seasons at Ibrox, he won only a single trophy – but it was a big one.

Following placements of 13 and nine points after Celtic in his initial pair of campaigns, Gerrard guided Rangers to their maiden top-flight championship in a ten years, which just happened to prevent their Old Firm rivals an historic 10-in-a-row win.

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

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

The downside was that it came amid of Covid and empty stadiums.

It continues to be Rangers' sole league triumph since the 2010-11 season.

How Did Gerrard's Old Firm Record Perform?

In sharp difference to Martin's unhappy experience, Gerrard started strongly at Rangers, remaining 12 games unbeaten until his initial trip to Celtic Park.

In his debut season the derby results were shared, each side earning two home wins, with Rangers having last beaten Celtic in 2012.

A pair of defeats to Celtic occurred in the next shortened season, followed by Rangers securing a victory in the east end of Glasgow for the initial occasion since 2010.

From then on, Gerrard stayed undefeated in derbies, claiming five more and drawing once.

Rangers progressed through four rounds of preliminaries to enter the group stage of the European competition in Gerrard's debut season.

In the 2019-20 campaign, they progressed to the elimination stage of the same tournament, being eliminated to the German side in the last 16, with their run ending at the same stage the next year.

What Led Gerrard Leave Rangers?

Aston Villa made an approach in November 2021, paying £4.5m in fees.

He departed Rangers four points ahead of Celtic at the summit of the table – however their city rivals would claw that back to win by the same margin.

The lure of the English top flight is powerful and it may have been viewed as the next logical step on a dream return to Anfield at a time when his managerial stock was high.

“Steven and his backroom staff have made sure that the club is undoubtedly in a stronger position today than it was three-and-a-half years ago,” commented at the time Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson.

“We have had a goal to move Rangers forward, to modernise our facilities and to make the club win again.”

How Did Gerrard's Record at Aston Villa and in Saudi Arabia?

Gerrard did not last a full season at Villa Park.

Inconsistent performances yielded a mid-table finish at the end of the 2021-22 campaign before a 3-0 defeat at Fulham left them 17th in October 2022 when he was sacked.

During 2022, he won just eight of his 31 games, suffering defeat in 15.

He moved to the Middle East in summer 2023 when he took over at the Saudi club.

His latest job lasted 18 months and he departed with the team sitting 12th in the Saudi Pro League, only five points clear of the relegation zone.

“Overall, I have gained valuable experience, and it's been a positive journey personally and for my loved ones,” he said in late January. “But soccer is unpredictable, and at times events don't unfold the way we hope.”

These post-Ibrox experiences could cause certain pause for thought and the man himself might harbor doubts over taking over a underperforming squad, but Gerrard probably has the character to handle such a prominent position.

He is the sole Rangers boss to have lifted the league trophy since the great Walter Smith. That achievement might well be hard to ignore for an under-pressure Ibrox board.