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Steven Gerrard has been at the center of conversation since Rangers parted ways with Russell Martin on Sunday, and the ex-coach will discuss a potential return with the team's owners.

The decision-makers at Ibrox announced that a "comprehensive, thoughtful hiring process" is now in progress.

Additional names are set to be considered, but if ex Liverpool and England captain is open to a second stint at Ibrox, could the position as good as his?

The 45-year-old coach lately spoken about “unfinished business” in coaching and disclosed he has started contacting potential staff for his backroom team.

In a latest audio discussion with Rio Ferdinand, which seemed to be filmed prior to Martin's brief tenure concluded, Gerrard expressed he wanted “to be at a team that's set to compete to win because I think that suits me better”.

He continued: “If the right call arrives, the appropriate team, the correct opportunity, and I've assembled my staff, which I plan to have at some point, I'll accept that role because it's part of my nature.”

Performance at Rangers in His First Stint

After gaining knowledge as a youth development manager at Anfield, Gerrard took on his first managerial position in the mid-year of 2018.

Over three full seasons at Ibrox, he secured just one trophy – however it proved significant.

After finishing nine and 13 points behind Celtic in his initial pair of campaigns, Gerrard guided Rangers to their maiden premiership championship in a ten years, which just happened to deny their Glasgow rivals an unprecedented tenth consecutive win.

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

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

The drawback was that it occurred amid of the pandemic and fanless grounds.

It continues to be Rangers' only 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 Celtic Park.

In his first season the Old Firm honours were even, each side earning two domestic wins, with Rangers having previously defeated Celtic in 2012.

Two losses to Celtic came in the following truncated season, after which Rangers securing a victory in the east end of Glasgow for the first time since 2010.

After that, Gerrard stayed unbeaten in derbies, winning five additional and drawing once.

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

In 2019-20, they progressed to the knockout rounds of the identical competition, being eliminated to the German side in the last 16, with their journey concluding at the identical round the next year.

Why Did Gerrard Depart Rangers?

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

He departed Rangers with a lead clear of Celtic at the top of the table – however their local opponents would claw that back to win by the identical gap.

The attraction of the Premier League is powerful and it could have been viewed as the next logical step on a dream return to Anfield at a time when his managerial stock was high.

“Steven and his coaching team have made sure that the club is undoubtedly in a better place today than it was several seasons ago,” said then Rangers football executive Ross Wilson.

“We have had a goal to move Rangers forward, to update our infrastructure and to return the team to winning ways.”

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

Gerrard did not last a year at Aston Villa.

Up and down results yielded a mid-table position at the conclusion of season 2021-22 before a 3-0 defeat at Fulham left them 17th in October 2022 when he was sacked.

Across 2022, he won just eight of his 31 games, losing 15.

He moved to the Middle East in July 2023 when he assumed control at the Saudi club.

His most recent job lasted a year and a half and he moved on with the team sitting in 12th in the Saudi league, just five points above the drop zone.

“Overall, I have learned a lot, and it's been a positive journey for me and for my family,” he remarked in the end of January. “But football is uncertain, and at times events don't unfold the way we hope.”

Those after Rangers exploits may give some hesitation and the individual might harbor doubts over taking over a struggling squad, but Gerrard likely has the character to handle such a high-profile post.

He is the sole Rangers boss to have lifted the championship since the legendary Walter Smith. That experience might well be difficult to overlook for an pressured Ibrox board.