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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 talk about a potential comeback with the club's leadership.

The decision-makers at Ibrox announced that a "thorough, thoughtful recruitment process" is currently underway.

Additional names will be reviewed, but if the former Anfield and Three Lions skipper is willing to a second stint at Ibrox, is the job essentially his?

The mid-forties coach lately spoken about “unfinished business” in coaching and disclosed he has started approaching prospective staff for his coaching team.

In a latest audio interview with Rio Ferdinand, appearing to be recorded prior to Martin's short tenure concluded, Gerrard stated he desired “to be at a team that's set to compete to win because I believe that suits me better”.

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

Performance at Rangers in Initial Period

After gaining knowledge as a youth development coach at Liverpool, Gerrard accepted his maiden coaching role in the summer of 2018.

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

After finishing 13 and nine points behind Celtic in his first two seasons, Gerrard guided Rangers to their first premiership title in a ten years, which coincidentally prevent their Glasgow rivals an unprecedented 10-in-a-row title.

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

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

The drawback was that it came against a backdrop of Covid and empty stadiums.

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

How Did Gerrard's Old Firm Record Perform?

In sharp difference to Martin's disappointing spell, Gerrard hit the ground running at Rangers, going 12 games without defeat until his first visit to Parkhead.

In his first season the Old Firm results were even, each side securing two home wins, with Rangers having previously defeated Celtic in 2012.

A pair of defeats to Celtic came in the following shortened season, after which Rangers winning in the eastern part of Glasgow for the first time since 2010.

After that, Gerrard remained unbeaten in derbies, claiming five additional and tying once.

Rangers came through four rounds of qualifying to reach the group stage of the Europa League in Gerrard's debut season.

In 2019-20, they progressed to the knockout rounds of the same competition, losing out to the German side in the last 16, with their run ending at the same stage the next year.

What Led Gerrard Depart Rangers?

Aston Villa came calling in November 2021, forking out £4.5m in fees.

He left Rangers with a lead ahead of Celtic at the summit of the table – however their local opponents would recover to win by the identical gap.

The lure of the Premier League is powerful and it could have been viewed as the natural progression on a fairytale return to Liverpool at a time when his managerial stock was at its peak.

“Steven and his backroom staff have ensured that the team is clearly in a better place today than it was several seasons ago,” commented at the time Rangers football executive Ross Wilson.

“We have shared a desire to move Rangers forward, 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 resulted in a mid-table finish at the end of season 2021-22 before a 3-0 defeat at Fulham left them in 17th in autumn 2022 when he was sacked.

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

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

His latest job continued for a year and a half and he moved on with the club placed 12th in the Saudi Pro League, just five points above the drop zone.

“Overall, I have gained valuable experience, and it's been a positive journey personally and for my family,” he said in late January. “But soccer is uncertain, and at times things don't go the way we want.”

Those post-Ibrox exploits could cause certain pause for thought and the man himself might harbor doubts over taking over a struggling squad, but Gerrard probably has the personality to manage such a prominent position.

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