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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 talk about a potential return with the team's leadership.

Those in charge at Rangers announced that a "thorough, considered recruitment procedure" is now in progress.

Additional names are set to be reviewed, however if the former Anfield and Three Lions skipper is open to a second stint at the club, is the job as good as his?

The mid-forties coach has recently mentioned about “remaining goals” in management and disclosed he has begun contacting potential staff for his backroom team.

In a recent audio discussion with the former defender, which seemed to be recorded prior to Martin's brief reign ended, Gerrard expressed he wanted “to be at a team that's set to compete to win because I believe that suits me more”.

He continued: “If the right call comes my way, the right club, the correct opportunity, and I've assembled my staff, which I will have at some point, I'll accept that role because it's in me.”

Performance at Rangers in His First Stint

Having acquired experience as a academy manager at Liverpool, Gerrard accepted his first managerial role in the summer of 2018.

Over three full campaigns at Rangers, he secured just one title – however it proved significant.

Following placements of nine and 13 points after Celtic in his initial pair of seasons, Gerrard led Rangers to their maiden premiership title in a ten years, which coincidentally prevent their Glasgow rivals an unprecedented tenth consecutive win.

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

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

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

It remains Rangers' only league triumph since the 2010-11 season.

What Was Gerrard's Derby Record Look?

In stark contrast to Martin's unhappy spell, Gerrard started strongly at Rangers, going 12 games without defeat until his initial trip to Celtic Park.

In his debut campaign the derby results were even, each side earning two domestic victories, with Rangers having previously defeated Celtic in 2012.

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

From then on, Gerrard stayed unbeaten in derbies, claiming five more and tying once.

Rangers came through four rounds of preliminaries to enter the group stage of the Europa League in Gerrard's first season.

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

What Led Gerrard Depart Rangers?

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

He departed 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 strong and it may have been seen as the natural progression on a dream return to Anfield at a point when his managerial stock was high.

“Steven and his backroom staff have made sure that the team is undoubtedly in a stronger position today than it was several seasons ago,” said at the time Rangers football executive Ross Wilson.

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

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

Gerrard did not last a full season at Aston Villa.

Inconsistent performances resulted in a 14th-place finish at the conclusion of season 2021-22 before a 3-0 loss at Fulham placed them 17th in October 2022 when he was dismissed.

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

He moved to the Middle East in July 2023 when he assumed control at the Saudi club.

His most recent role continued for 18 months and he moved on with the team placed 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 personally and for my loved ones,” he said in the end of January. “But soccer is uncertain, and sometimes things don't go the way we hope.”

These after Rangers exploits may give certain hesitation and the individual might harbor doubts over inheriting a underperforming squad, but Gerrard likely has the personality to manage such a prominent post.

He is the only Rangers manager to have lifted the championship since the great Walter Smith. That experience might well be hard to ignore for an under-pressure Rangers leadership.