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Steven Gerrard has been in the spotlight of discussion after Rangers parted ways with Russell Martin on the weekend, and the ex-coach will discuss a potential comeback with the club's owners.

Those in charge at Ibrox announced that a "thorough, thoughtful recruitment process" is currently in progress.

Additional names will be considered, however if ex Liverpool and England skipper is willing to a second stint at the club, is the job essentially his?

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

In a recent podcast discussion with Rio Ferdinand, appearing to be filmed prior to Martin's brief tenure concluded, Gerrard stated he wanted “to be at a team that's going to compete to win because I think that fits me better”.

He continued: “If the suitable offer comes my way, the appropriate team, the right challenge, and I've assembled my staff, which I will have at a future date, I'll accept that role because it's part of my nature.”

Gerrard's Record at Rangers in His First Stint

Having acquired knowledge as a youth development coach at Anfield, Gerrard took on his first managerial position in the summer of 2018.

Over three complete campaigns at Ibrox, he secured just one title – however it was a big one.

Following placements of nine and 13 points behind their rivals in his first two seasons, Gerrard guided Rangers to their maiden top-flight title in a ten years, which coincidentally prevent their Old Firm rivals an historic 10-in-a-row win.

And he did it impressively, with his team unbeaten throughout.

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

The drawback was that it came amid of Covid and fanless grounds.

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

What Was Gerrard's Old Firm Record Perform?

In sharp difference to Martin's unhappy experience, Gerrard hit the ground running at Rangers, going 12 games without defeat until his initial trip to Celtic Park.

In his debut season the Old Firm honours were shared, each side earning two domestic victories, with Rangers having previously defeated Celtic in 2012.

A pair of defeats to Celtic occurred in the following shortened 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, claiming five more and drawing once.

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

In the 2019-20 campaign, they progressed to the knockout rounds of the same competition, losing out to Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16, with their run ending at the same stage the following season.

What Led Gerrard Leave Rangers?

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

He left Rangers four points clear of Celtic at the summit of the table – however their city rivals would claw that back to prevail by the same margin.

The attraction of the English top flight is powerful and it could have been seen as the natural progression on a fairytale comeback to Liverpool at a point when his managerial stock was at its peak.

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

“We have had a goal 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 failed to complete a full season at Villa Park.

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

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

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

His latest job lasted 18 months and he departed with the team placed in 12th in the Saudi Pro League, just five points clear of the drop zone.

“Overall, I have gained valuable experience, and it's been a beneficial journey for me and for my loved ones,” he remarked in the end of January. “But football is uncertain, and at times events don't unfold the way we hope.”

Those post-Ibrox exploits may give some pause for thought and the man himself may have doubts over inheriting a struggling team, but Gerrard probably has the personality to handle such a prominent post.

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