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Steven Gerrard is at the center of conversation since Rangers parted ways with Russell Martin on the weekend, and the former manager will discuss a possible return with the team's owners.

Those in charge at Rangers announced that a "thorough, considered hiring process" is now in progress.

Additional names are set to be reviewed, however if ex Anfield and Three Lions captain is open to a second stint at the club, is the job essentially his?

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

In a recent audio interview with Rio Ferdinand, appearing to be recorded prior to Martin's brief tenure ended, Gerrard expressed he desired “to be at a club that's going to compete to win because I believe that suits me better”.

He continued: “If the right call 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 in me.”

Performance at Rangers in His First Stint

Having acquired experience as a youth development coach at Anfield, Gerrard accepted his maiden coaching position in the mid-year of 2018.

During three complete campaigns at Rangers, he won only a single trophy – however it was a big one.

After finishing 13 and nine points behind Celtic in his initial pair of seasons, Gerrard led Rangers to their first premiership championship in a decade, which coincidentally deny their Glasgow rivals an unprecedented tenth consecutive win.

And he achieved it impressively, with his team unbeaten in the process.

Rangers won all of their domestic games, netted 92 goals and conceded a only 13.

The downside was that it came amid of Covid and empty stadiums.

It remains Rangers' sole title success since the 2010-11 season.

What Was Gerrard's Derby Record Look?

In sharp difference to Martin's unhappy spell, Gerrard hit the ground running at Rangers, remaining 12 games without defeat until his initial trip to Parkhead.

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

A pair of defeats to Celtic occurred in the next 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 more and drawing once.

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

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

What Led Gerrard Leave Rangers?

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

He departed Rangers four points clear of Celtic at the summit of the table – however their city rivals would recover to win by the identical gap.

The lure of the English top flight is strong and it may have been seen as the next logical step on a fairytale comeback to Liverpool at a time when his managerial stock was high.

“Steven and his backroom staff have ensured that the team is undoubtedly in a stronger position today than it was three-and-a-half years ago,” commented then Rangers football executive Ross Wilson.

“We have shared a goal to move Rangers forward, to modernise 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 full season at Aston Villa.

Up and down results resulted in a 14th-place position at the end of the 2021-22 campaign before a 3-0 loss at Craven Cottage placed them in 17th in October 2022 when he was sacked.

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 latest 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.

“Overall, I have gained valuable experience, and it's been a beneficial journey for me and for my family,” he said in the end of January. “But soccer is unpredictable, and at times things don't go the way we hope.”

These after Rangers exploits may give some hesitation and the man himself may have concerns over inheriting a underperforming squad, but Gerrard likely has the personality to manage such a high-profile post.

He is the only Rangers manager to have lifted the league trophy since the great Walter Smith. That achievement might well be difficult to overlook for an pressured Ibrox board.