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Steven Gerrard has been in the spotlight of discussion since Rangers parted ways with Russell Martin on the weekend, while the ex-coach is set to discuss a potential return with the team's owners.

The decision-makers at Rangers announced that a "thorough, thoughtful hiring procedure" is currently in progress.

Additional names will be considered, however if the former Anfield and Three Lions skipper is open to a return spell at the club, could the position essentially his?

The 45-year-old coach lately spoken about “unfinished business” in management and disclosed he has started approaching potential members for his coaching team.

In a recent audio discussion with Rio Ferdinand, appearing to be recorded before Martin's brief tenure concluded, Gerrard expressed he wanted “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 right club, the correct opportunity, and I've got my people set, which I plan to have at some point, I'll accept that role because it's in me.”

Performance at Rangers in Initial Period

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

During three complete seasons at Rangers, he secured just one trophy – but it was a big one.

After finishing nine and 13 points behind their rivals in his first two campaigns, Gerrard led Rangers to their first premiership championship in a ten years, which just happened to prevent their Glasgow rivals an historic tenth consecutive win.

And he achieved it in style, with his team unbeaten throughout.

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

The downside was that it occurred against a backdrop of Covid and empty stadiums.

It continues to be Rangers' sole title success since the 2010-11 season.

What Was Gerrard's Old Firm Record Perform?

In sharp difference to Martin's disappointing spell, Gerrard hit the ground running at Rangers, going 12 games unbeaten until his first visit to Celtic Park.

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

Two losses to Celtic occurred in the next truncated season, after which Rangers winning in the east end of Glasgow for the first time since 2010.

After that, Gerrard stayed unbeaten in derbies, claiming five more and drawing once.

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

In 2019-20, they progressed to the elimination stage of the identical competition, losing out to Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16, with their journey concluding at the same stage the following season.

Why Did Gerrard Depart Rangers?

The Birmingham club made an approach in late 2021, forking out £4.5m in fees.

He left Rangers with a lead ahead of Celtic at the summit of the table – however their local opponents would claw that back to prevail by the identical gap.

The lure of the English top flight is powerful and it could have been viewed as the next logical step on a fairytale return to Anfield at a time 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 three-and-a-half years ago,” commented at the time Rangers football executive Ross Wilson.

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

What Was Gerrard's Record at Aston Villa and in Saudi Arabia?

Gerrard did not last a year at Aston Villa.

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

During 2022, he secured only eight of his 31 games, suffering defeat in 15.

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

His latest role lasted a year and a half and he departed with the club sitting 12th in the Saudi league, just five points above the relegation zone.

“Overall, I have learned a lot, and it's been a beneficial experience for me and for my family,” he said in late January. “But soccer is uncertain, and at times events don't unfold the way we want.”

These after Rangers experiences may give certain hesitation and the individual might harbor concerns over inheriting a struggling team, but Gerrard probably has the personality to manage such a prominent position.

He is the sole Rangers manager to have won the championship since the great Walter Smith. That experience could be hard to ignore for an under-pressure Ibrox board.