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The former Liverpool captain has been in the spotlight of discussion since Rangers dismissed Russell Martin on Sunday, while the ex-coach is set to discuss a potential comeback with the club's owners.

Those in charge at Ibrox announced that a "thorough, considered hiring process" is currently underway.

Other candidates are set to be considered, but if ex Liverpool and England skipper is open to a return spell at Ibrox, is the job essentially his?

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

In a recent audio interview with Rio Ferdinand, which seemed to be filmed before Martin's brief reign ended, Gerrard expressed he wanted “to be at a club that's going to compete to win because I think that fits me more”.

He added: “If the right call comes my way, the appropriate team, the correct opportunity, and I've got my people set, which I will have at a future date, I'll take that challenge on because it's in me.”

Gerrard's Record at Rangers in Initial Period

After gaining experience as a youth development manager at Anfield, Gerrard accepted his first managerial role in the summer of 2018.

During three full seasons at Ibrox, he secured just one trophy – however it proved significant.

After finishing 13 and nine points after their rivals in his initial pair of campaigns, Gerrard guided Rangers to their maiden premiership championship in a decade, which coincidentally deny their Old Firm rivals an unprecedented tenth consecutive title.

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

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

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

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

What Was Gerrard's Old Firm Record Look?

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

In his debut season the Old Firm results were even, each side earning two home victories, with Rangers having last beaten Celtic in 2012.

Two losses to Celtic came in the next truncated season, after which Rangers winning in the east end of Glasgow for the initial occasion since 2010.

From then on, Gerrard remained undefeated in derbies, claiming five additional and drawing once.

Rangers came through four rounds of qualifying 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 Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16, with their run concluding at the identical round the following season.

What Led Gerrard Depart Rangers?

Aston Villa came calling in November 2021, paying £4.5m in compensation.

He departed Rangers four points ahead of Celtic at the top of the standings – but their city rivals would recover to prevail by the same margin.

The lure of the Premier League is powerful and it may have been seen as the next logical step on a fairytale return to Anfield at a point when his managerial stock was at its peak.

“Steven and his coaching team have made sure that the club is clearly in a stronger position today than it was several seasons ago,” said at the time Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson.

“We have had a goal to advance the club, to modernise our infrastructure and to return the team to winning ways.”

What Was Gerrard's Record at Villa & Al-Ettifaq?

Gerrard failed to complete a year at Villa Park.

Inconsistent results resulted in a mid-table finish at the conclusion of the 2021-22 campaign before a 3-0 loss at Craven Cottage placed them 17th in autumn 2022 when he was dismissed.

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

He transferred to Saudi Arabia in summer 2023 when he assumed control at the Saudi club.

His most recent job lasted 18 months and he departed with the team placed 12th in the Saudi Pro League, only five points above the relegation zone.

“In summary, I have learned a lot, and it's been a beneficial experience personally and for my loved ones,” he said in late January. “But football is unpredictable, and sometimes events don't unfold the way we want.”

Those post-Ibrox exploits may give certain pause for thought and the man himself might harbor concerns over taking over a struggling squad, but Gerrard probably has the personality to manage such a high-profile post.

He is the only Rangers boss to have won the league trophy since the legendary Walter Smith. That achievement could be hard to ignore for an pressured Rangers leadership.