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Steven Gerrard has been in the spotlight of discussion after Rangers parted ways with Russell Martin on Sunday, while the ex-coach will discuss a possible return with the team's leadership.

The decision-makers at Rangers have stated that a "thorough, considered hiring procedure" is now underway.

Other candidates are set to be reviewed, but if ex Anfield and Three Lions captain is open to a return spell at Ibrox, could the position as good as his?

The mid-forties manager has recently mentioned about “remaining goals” in coaching and disclosed he has begun approaching prospective staff for his backroom team.

In a latest audio interview with the former defender, appearing to be recorded before Martin's short reign concluded, Gerrard expressed he desired “to be at a club that's set to challenge to win because I think that suits me more”.

He continued: “If the right call comes my way, the right club, the right challenge, and I've got my people set, which I plan to 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 experience as a youth development coach at Liverpool, Gerrard took on his first managerial role in the mid-year of 2018.

During three complete seasons at Ibrox, he won just one title – however it was a big one.

Following placements of 13 and nine points behind Celtic in his initial pair of campaigns, Gerrard guided Rangers to their maiden top-flight title in a decade, which coincidentally prevent their Old Firm rivals an historic tenth consecutive win.

And he did it in style, with his team undefeated throughout.

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

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

It continues to be Rangers' sole league triumph since the 2010-11 season.

How Did Gerrard's Derby Record Perform?

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

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

A pair of defeats to Celtic occurred in the next shortened season, after which Rangers securing a victory in the eastern part of Glasgow for the initial occasion since 2010.

From then on, Gerrard remained unbeaten in derbies, winning five more and drawing once.

Rangers progressed through four stages of qualifying to enter the main phase of the European competition in Gerrard's debut season.

In 2019-20, they advanced to the elimination stage of the same competition, losing out to the German side in the round of 16, with their journey concluding at the same stage the next year.

Why Did Gerrard Leave Rangers?

The Birmingham club made an approach in November 2021, paying £4.5m in fees.

He departed Rangers four points ahead of Celtic at the top of the standings – but their city rivals would recover to prevail by the identical gap.

The lure of the Premier League is powerful and it may have been viewed as the next logical step on a dream comeback to Liverpool at a point when his coaching reputation was at its peak.

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

“We have shared a goal to advance the club, to update our facilities and to return the team to winning ways.”

What Was Gerrard's Record at Villa & Al-Ettifaq?

Gerrard did not last a full season at Villa Park.

Up and down performances yielded a 14th-place position at the end of the 2021-22 campaign before a 3-0 loss at Fulham left them in 17th in October 2022 when he was dismissed.

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

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

His most recent job continued for a year and a half and he departed with the team sitting in 12th in the Saudi Pro 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 loved ones,” he remarked in the end of January. “But soccer is uncertain, and sometimes things don't go the way we hope.”

Those post-Ibrox exploits could cause certain hesitation and the man himself may have concerns over taking over a struggling team, but Gerrard probably has the personality to handle such a prominent position.

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