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Steven Gerrard is in the spotlight of conversation after Rangers parted ways with Russell Martin on the weekend, while the former manager will discuss a possible comeback with the club's leadership.

Those in charge at Rangers have stated that a "thorough, thoughtful hiring process" is now in progress.

Other candidates will be reviewed, but if the former Anfield and Three Lions captain is open to a second stint at Ibrox, is the job as good as his?

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

In a recent audio interview with the former defender, appearing to be recorded before Martin's brief reign ended, Gerrard stated he wanted “to be at a team that's set to challenge to win because I believe that fits me better”.

He added: “If the suitable offer arrives, the right club, the right challenge, and I've got my people set, which I plan to have at some point, 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 took on his first managerial role in the mid-year of 2018.

Over three full campaigns at Rangers, he secured just one title – but it was a big one.

After finishing nine and 13 points after their rivals in his first two seasons, Gerrard guided Rangers to their maiden top-flight title in a decade, which just happened to deny their Glasgow rivals an unprecedented tenth consecutive win.

And he achieved it impressively, with his team undefeated throughout.

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

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

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

How Did Gerrard's Derby Record Perform?

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

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

Two losses to Celtic came in the next shortened season, followed by Rangers winning in the east end of Glasgow for the initial occasion since 2010.

After that, Gerrard remained unbeaten in derbies, winning five more and tying once.

Rangers progressed through four rounds of preliminaries to reach the main phase of the European competition in Gerrard's first season.

In the 2019-20 campaign, they advanced to the elimination stage of the identical competition, being eliminated to the German side in the round of 16, with their journey ending at the same stage the following season.

What Led Gerrard Leave Rangers?

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

He left Rangers four points ahead of Celtic at the summit of the table – but their local opponents would recover to win by the same margin.

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

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

“We have had a desire to advance the club, to update our facilities and to make the club win again.”

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

Gerrard did not last a full season at Villa Park.

Up and down performances resulted in a 14th-place finish at the end of season 2021-22 before a 3-0 defeat at Fulham placed them in 17th in autumn 2022 when he was sacked.

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

He transferred to Saudi Arabia in July 2023 when he took over at Al-Ettifaq.

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 above the drop zone.

“In summary, I have learned a lot, and it's been a beneficial journey for me and for my family,” he remarked in late January. “But soccer is unpredictable, and sometimes things don't go the way we want.”

These after Rangers exploits could cause some pause for thought and the man himself may have concerns over inheriting a underperforming team, but Gerrard likely has the character to manage such a prominent position.

He is the sole Rangers manager to have won the league trophy since the great Walter Smith. That achievement might well be hard to ignore for an under-pressure Rangers leadership.