Back in May 2018, Steven Gerrard, Liverpool’s former Champions League-winning captain, was announced as the new manager of Rangers. Upon accepting the role, the now 39-year-old left his position as youth coach on Merseyside to take his first steps onto the managerial ladder in senior football. However, in recent months, the Gers have struggled for both consistency and form. So, with that in mind, let’s consider how far the Liverpool-born manager can take Rangers.
Mixed Displays, but a Generally Promising Start to Life in Scotland
Despite only being in his second season at Ibrox after signing a four-and-a-half-year deal, the Englishman has quickly become familiar with the highs and lows of management, with the club’s supporter’s on-the-park satisfaction level being recorded as the fourth highest in the league. Prior to the suspension of the league, Celtic were the clear favourites for the title at the majority of the UK bookmakers including those at SBO.net after opening up a 13-point lead over Gerrard’s side following what Kenny Miller described as a “very poor” run of form for his former side.
On matchday 21, the English manager’s team secured a 2-1 victory at Celtic Park, which, at the time, saw them cut the gap at the top to just two points. However, since then, things have taken a downward spiral, leading many to question how far the Gers can go under Gerrard’s leadership.
That said, despite some of the negativity which has begun to creep in, there is still reason for long-term optimism for the Ibrox faithful. In under two years, the 39-year-old manager has, for the most part, taken Rangers back to a point where they are capable of consistently competing with Neil Lennon’s Celtic, in addition to returning them to the knockout stages of European football.
The Goal Remains the Same
While the manager and player versions of Gerrard are likely to somewhat differ in their approach, his drive to succeed should never come under question. Following their Scottish Cup defeat to Hearts at the end of February 2020, the former England captain reaffirmed his commitment to Rangers.
Fundamentally, the principle aim to knock Celtic off their perch at the top of the Scottish Premier League remains the long-term goal, despite falling short this season. While short-term setbacks have knocked the confidence of some of those at Ibrox, the determination to succeed is now likely to be greater than ever among both the club’s staff and players.
Despite concerns that Gerrard’s to-the-point post-match comments may be negatively affecting some of the players in the dressing room, Michael Beale, a first-team coach at Rangers, has responded by stating that the 39-year-old leads the club incredibly well in an interview with The Athletic. Although Gerrard’s style is something of a throwback to older managerial approaches, his control over his players doesn’t appear in jeopardy, with each united in their ambitions to one day achieve title-winning glory.
Will Patience be Rewarded?
Ultimately, only time will tell if Gerrard can bring success back to Ibrox, but, at present, there are reasons for optimism. The Englishman’s commitment to Rangers is there for all to see, while his leadership skills have been instrumental in seeing the Gers thrive on the European stage. Moreover, and perhaps most crucially, he has the support of his players, the importance of which cannot be understated.