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The former Liverpool captain is in the spotlight of conversation after Rangers dismissed Russell Martin on Sunday, and the ex-coach is set to discuss a potential comeback with the club's owners.

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

Other candidates are set to be reviewed, but if the former Liverpool and England skipper is willing to a second stint at Ibrox, could the position essentially his?

The 45-year-old manager lately spoken about “remaining goals” in coaching and disclosed he has started contacting prospective members for his backroom team.

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

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

Gerrard's Record at Rangers in His First Stint

Having acquired experience as a youth development manager at Anfield, Gerrard took on his maiden coaching position in the summer of 2018.

During three full campaigns at Ibrox, he secured only a single title – however it proved significant.

Following placements of 13 and nine points after Celtic in his first two campaigns, Gerrard guided Rangers to their first premiership championship in a ten years, which coincidentally deny their Glasgow rivals an historic tenth consecutive win.

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

Rangers won all of their domestic games, scored 92 goals and allowed a mere 13.

The downside was that it occurred against a backdrop of the pandemic and empty stadiums.

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

What Was Gerrard's Old Firm Record Perform?

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

In his debut season the derby results were shared, each side securing two home victories, with Rangers having last beaten Celtic in 2012.

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

After that, Gerrard stayed undefeated in Old Firm clashes, claiming five more and drawing once.

Rangers progressed through four stages of preliminaries to enter the main phase of the Europa League in Gerrard's debut season.

In the 2019-20 campaign, they advanced to the elimination stage of the identical competition, losing out to Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16, with their run ending at the identical round the next year.

What Led Gerrard Leave Rangers?

The Birmingham club came calling in November 2021, paying £4.5m in fees.

He left Rangers with a lead ahead of Celtic at the summit of the standings – but their local opponents would recover to prevail by the same margin.

The lure of the English top flight is strong and it may have been viewed as the next logical step on a fairytale return to Liverpool at a point when his coaching reputation was at its peak.

“Steven and his coaching team have ensured that the team is clearly in a better place today than it was three-and-a-half years ago,” commented then Rangers football executive Ross Wilson.

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

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 mid-table position at the conclusion of the 2021-22 campaign before a three-goal loss at Craven Cottage left them in 17th in October 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 July 2023 when he assumed control at the Saudi club.

His most recent job continued for 18 months and he departed with the club sitting 12th in the Saudi Pro League, only five points clear of the relegation zone.

“In summary, I have learned a lot, and it's been a positive experience for me and for my loved ones,” he said in the end of January. “But soccer is uncertain, and at times things don't go the way we want.”

Those post-Ibrox experiences may give certain hesitation and the individual may have concerns over taking over a underperforming team, but Gerrard probably has the personality to manage such a prominent position.

He is the only Rangers boss to have won the league trophy since the legendary Walter Smith. That experience could be hard to ignore for an under-pressure Ibrox board.