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Steven Gerrard is in the spotlight of discussion after Rangers dismissed Russell Martin on Sunday, and the ex-coach will discuss a possible return with the club's owners.

Those in charge at Ibrox announced that a "comprehensive, considered recruitment procedure" is now underway.

Additional names are set to be considered, however if the former Liverpool and England captain is willing to a second stint at the club, is the job as good as his?

The 45-year-old coach has recently spoken about “unfinished business” in coaching and revealed he has begun approaching potential members for his coaching team.

In a recent audio discussion with the former defender, appearing to be recorded before Martin's brief reign concluded, Gerrard expressed he wanted “to be at a team that's set to challenge to win because I think that fits me more”.

He added: “If the suitable offer arrives, the appropriate team, the correct opportunity, and I've got my people set, which I will have at some point, I'll take that challenge on because it's in me.”

Performance at Rangers in Initial Period

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

During three full campaigns at Ibrox, he won only a single title – however it was a big one.

After finishing 13 and nine points after Celtic in his first two seasons, Gerrard led Rangers to their first premiership championship in a decade, which just happened to deny their Old Firm rivals an unprecedented tenth consecutive win.

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

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

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

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

How Did Gerrard's Old Firm Record Perform?

In stark contrast to Martin's disappointing experience, Gerrard started strongly at Rangers, remaining 12 games without defeat until his first visit to Parkhead.

In his first campaign the Old Firm 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 winning in the east end of Glasgow for the initial occasion since 2010.

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

Rangers came through four rounds of preliminaries to reach the main phase of the European competition in Gerrard's first season.

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

What Led Gerrard Depart Rangers?

Aston Villa made an approach in late 2021, paying £4.5m in fees.

He left Rangers four points clear of Celtic at the top of the table – but their local opponents would recover to prevail by the same margin.

The lure of the English top flight is strong and it could have been viewed 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 clearly in a stronger position today than it was three-and-a-half years ago,” commented at the time Rangers football executive Ross Wilson.

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

How Did Gerrard's Record at Aston Villa and in Saudi Arabia?

Gerrard failed to complete a full season at Villa Park.

Inconsistent results resulted in a mid-table position at the conclusion of the 2021-22 campaign before a three-goal defeat at Fulham placed them 17th in October 2022 when he was dismissed.

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

He moved to Saudi Arabia in July 2023 when he assumed control at Al-Ettifaq.

His most recent role continued for a year and a half and he moved on with the club sitting in 12th in the Saudi league, only five points clear of the relegation zone.

“Overall, I have learned a lot, and it's been a beneficial experience personally and for my loved ones,” he said in late January. “But soccer is unpredictable, and sometimes events don't unfold the way we want.”

Those post-Ibrox experiences could cause some hesitation and the man himself might harbor concerns over inheriting a struggling team, but Gerrard probably has the personality to handle such a prominent position.

He is the sole Rangers boss to have won the league trophy since the legendary Walter Smith. That experience could be difficult to overlook for an under-pressure Rangers leadership.