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Steven Gerrard has been at the center of conversation since Rangers dismissed Russell Martin on the weekend, while the ex-coach will discuss a possible return with the club's owners.

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

Additional names will be considered, but if ex Anfield and Three Lions skipper is open to a return spell at the club, could the position as good as his?

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

In a latest podcast discussion with the former defender, appearing to be filmed prior to Martin's short reign concluded, Gerrard expressed he wanted “to be at a club that's set to challenge to win because I believe that fits me more”.

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

Gerrard's Record at Rangers in His First Stint

After gaining knowledge as a academy manager at Liverpool, Gerrard took on his first managerial role in the mid-year of 2018.

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

Following placements of nine and 13 points after their rivals in his initial pair of seasons, Gerrard led Rangers to their maiden premiership title in a decade, which coincidentally deny their Old Firm rivals an unprecedented 10-in-a-row win.

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

Rangers won all of their home games, scored 92 goals and conceded a only 13.

The downside was that it occurred against a backdrop of Covid and fanless grounds.

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

How Did Gerrard's Derby 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 Parkhead.

In his debut campaign the Old Firm honours were even, each side securing two home wins, with Rangers having last beaten Celtic in 2012.

Two losses to Celtic came in the next truncated season, after which Rangers securing a victory in the east end of Glasgow for the first time since 2010.

After that, Gerrard stayed undefeated in derbies, claiming five additional and tying once.

Rangers came through four stages of qualifying to reach the main phase of the Europa League in Gerrard's debut season.

In the 2019-20 campaign, they advanced to the knockout rounds of the same competition, losing out to Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16, with their journey concluding at the identical round the following season.

What Led Gerrard Leave Rangers?

The Birmingham club came calling in late 2021, forking out £4.5m in compensation.

He departed Rangers with a lead clear of Celtic at the top of the standings – however their local opponents would recover to prevail by the same margin.

The attraction of the Premier League is strong and it may have been seen as the next logical step on a dream comeback 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 better place today than it was three-and-a-half years ago,” commented then Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson.

“We have shared a desire to move Rangers forward, to modernise our facilities and to return the team to winning ways.”

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

Gerrard did not last a year at Aston Villa.

Inconsistent performances resulted in a mid-table position at the end of the 2021-22 campaign before a 3-0 defeat at Craven Cottage placed them 17th in autumn 2022 when he was sacked.

Across 2022, he won just eight of his 31 games, losing 15.

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

His most recent job lasted a year and a half and he moved on with the team placed in 12th in the Saudi Pro League, only five points clear of the relegation zone.

“Overall, I have gained valuable experience, and it's been a positive experience for me and for my family,” he said in the end of January. “But soccer is unpredictable, and at times events don't unfold the way we want.”

Those after Rangers exploits could cause some hesitation and the individual might harbor concerns over inheriting a struggling squad, but Gerrard probably has the character to handle such a high-profile post.

He is the only Rangers boss to have lifted the league trophy since the great Walter Smith. That experience might well be hard to ignore for an pressured Rangers leadership.