Next Rangers manager: Steven Gerrard jets in for talks over sensational Ibrox return

Steven Gerrard is ready to meet with the Rangers hierarchy to discuss a potential move back to the Scottish champions, where he won the title, after they sacked Russell Martin

Steven Gerrard will hold talks over potentially returning to Rangers as the Scottish giants seek a replacement for Russell Martin, whom they only appointed in the summer.

Rangers languish in eighth with just one win from their seven league games, coupled with several European embarrassments, and recently made the decision to part ways with their manager. They’ve now set their sights on Gerrard, who is the only man to win a league title at Ibrox over the past decade.

Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh and vice-chairman Paraag Marathe will hold talks with the Liverpool icon in London on Thursday. The two senior figures were at the club when Gerrard was last in that post.

Rangers contacted Gerrard about taking over from Philippe Clement earlier this year but for family and personal reasons it did not suit him and he turned down the opportunity. But by choosing to meet with senior figures at Rangers it suggests his circumstances have changed, reports the Daily Mail.

Gerrard recently said on the ‘Rio Meets’ podcast: “There’s a part of me that still feels that there’s a bit of unfinished business in terms of wanting to go in and face another couple of exciting challenges. But I want a certain type of challenge. If in an ideal world they come available, I’ll jump at them.”

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Gerrard left Rangers for Aston Villa eight months after winning the league, but his stint at the the Premier League club lasted less than a year before he was sacked. His only job since then was the 18 months at Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia, which ended in January.

The make-up of Gerrard’s potential backroom staff could present some challenges – during his last stint he leant on then first team coach Michael Beale. He later became Rangers boss but endured a horror spell and it remains to be seen how any return for him would be received.

It is understood that Gretar Steinsson – the technical director of 49ers Enterprises who own Rangers – is involved in the search for a new manager. This time round sporting director Kevin Thelwell and chief executive Patrick Stewart are not as prominent in the process as they were when Martin was appointed.

There has been an acceptance that they were wrong in going after the ex-Southampton boss. A statement read: “When we took over the club this summer, we shared what we want to build for Rangers – to win trophies in Scotland and be able to compete at a high level in Europe.

“We know achieving these goals will take time, but our performances and results have not been good enough. We know you are frustrated – we are too. We did not get this right, and it’s our responsibility to fix it and get us back on track.”

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