Would Steven Gerrard be a good fit for Rangers?

Steven Gerrard has been installed as the favourite for the Rangers job by some bookmakers. Picture: Getty Images

With the former Liverpool and England midfielder installed as the favourite to take the reins at Ibrox, Patrick McPartlin looks at whether Steven Gerrard is the right man for Rangers

Sometimes, employing relatively inexperienced managers can work, such as Alan Stubbs at Hibernian, or Neil Lennon at Celtic.

At other times, most notably Ian Cathro’s brief tenure at Hearts, or Lee McCulloch’s spell in charge of Kilmarnock, it can backfire quite dramatically.

I suspect that Ross County fans would be among the first to point out that even appointing established managers with decent track records isn’t without its pitfalls.

Steven Gerrard, whom some bookmakers have installed as the frontrunner to succeed Graeme Murty as Rangers manager, falls very much into the former category.

Currently in charge of Liverpool’s Under-18 side, one would have to imagine Gerrard has an eye on a management gig in the not-too-distant future, even if he was enthusiastic about returning to Anfield as a coach to “complete the circle” at the club he served for 26 years.

In a wide-ranging interview with The Guardian in December last year, Gerrard was candid about his career path, saying: “In six months or a year or two years’ time there might be an opportunity where I think I’m much better prepared than I was five months ago. The MK Dons job, for example, which came up just after I had finished playing, was like a smack in the face. There was no way I was ready to lead a club or a team.

“Am I closer to that now? Of course, but I am happy where I am right now.”

That six month period will be up in June during which, one would have to imagine, Rangers will be sizing up potential successors to Murty - if the club decides to dispense with his services.

The former Anfield captain has worked with Liverpool’s academy since February 2017, coaching the stars of tomorrow while learning himself from Jurgen Klopp, Alex Inglethorpe and the other coaches at the club’s Kirkby base.

In his own words, leading the club’s Under-18s has helped Gerrard get a taste of football management “away from the cameras”.

The ex-England international spends six days out of every seven working at the Liverpool academy, leading by example with his work ethic. Matches are dissected down to the last tackle. Mental notes are made to praise certain players, or work more closely with others. Gerrard also takes a keen interest in the education and welfare side of the job. He has built up a rapport with his players, recognising the need to support them and care for them.

He focuses on winning, and drilling that mentality into his squad.

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It’s a far cry from an incandescent Alex Ferguson kicking a football boot at David Beckham, or an apoplectic John Hughes slating the Raith Rovers players in an interview with the club’s TV channel.

It’s also a million miles away from couplets about dogs and caravans, or standing in a hedge ranting at supporters, while Gerrard doesn’t seem like the kind of person to pe