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Steven Gerrard has been at the center of conversation since Rangers parted ways with Russell Martin on the weekend, and the former manager is set to discuss a potential comeback with the club's leadership.

The decision-makers at Ibrox have stated that a "comprehensive, thoughtful recruitment procedure" is now underway.

Other candidates will be considered, however if the former Anfield and Three Lions skipper is open to a second stint at the club, is the job essentially his?

The mid-forties manager lately mentioned about “unfinished business” in management and revealed he has begun contacting potential staff for his coaching team.

In a latest audio interview with the former defender, which seemed to be recorded prior to Martin's short reign concluded, Gerrard stated he desired “to be at a team that's set to compete to win because I think that fits me more”.

He continued: “If the right call arrives, the appropriate team, 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 part of my nature.”

Performance at Rangers in Initial Period

Having acquired knowledge as a academy manager at Liverpool, Gerrard took on his maiden coaching position in the summer of 2018.

Over three complete seasons at Ibrox, he won just one trophy – however it proved significant.

After finishing nine and 13 points behind Celtic in his initial pair of seasons, Gerrard led Rangers to their maiden premiership title in a ten years, which just happened to prevent their Glasgow rivals an unprecedented 10-in-a-row title.

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

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

The downside was that it came against a backdrop of Covid and fanless grounds.

It remains Rangers' only title success since 2010-11.

What Was Gerrard's Old Firm Record Perform?

In stark contrast to Martin's disappointing spell, Gerrard hit the ground running at Rangers, going 12 games without defeat until his initial trip to Parkhead.

In his debut campaign the Old Firm results were shared, each side earning two domestic victories, with Rangers having last beaten Celtic in 2012.

A pair of defeats to Celtic came in the following truncated season, after which Rangers securing a victory in the east end of Glasgow for the initial occasion since 2010.

From then on, Gerrard remained unbeaten in Old Firm clashes, winning five more and tying once.

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

In 2019-20, they advanced to the elimination stage of the same competition, being eliminated to the German side in the round of 16, with their run concluding at the identical round the next year.

What Led Gerrard Depart Rangers?

The Birmingham club came calling in late 2021, paying £4.5m in compensation.

He left Rangers four points ahead of Celtic at the top of the table – however their local opponents would recover to win by the identical gap.

The attraction of the Premier League is powerful and it may have been viewed as the next logical step on a fairytale return to Liverpool at a point when his coaching reputation was at its peak.

“Steven and his coaching team have ensured that the team is clearly in a better place today than it was several seasons ago,” said then Rangers football executive Ross Wilson.

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

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

Gerrard failed to complete a full season at Aston Villa.

Up and down performances resulted in a mid-table position at the conclusion of season 2021-22 before a three-goal defeat at Fulham left them in 17th in autumn 2022 when he was sacked.

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

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

His most recent job continued for a year and a half and he departed with the team placed 12th in the Saudi league, just five points clear of the relegation zone.

“Overall, I have learned a lot, and it's been a positive experience for me and for my family,” he remarked in late January. “But football is uncertain, and sometimes events don't unfold the way we hope.”

Those post-Ibrox exploits could cause some hesitation and the individual may have doubts over inheriting a struggling squad, but Gerrard likely has the character to handle such a high-profile post.

He is the only Rangers manager to have won the league trophy since the legendary Walter Smith. That achievement might well be difficult to overlook for an under-pressure Ibrox board.