Former Rangers striker Mark Hately says Steven Gerrard ticks all the boxes to become the next manager of the club.
Gerrard departed Ibrox for Aston Villa in 2021. It didn't go to plan for the Englishman in Birmingham and last month, he resigned from his post as manager of Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ettiffaq.
As Rangers seek a permanent replacement for Philippe Clement this summer, Hately believes Gerrard is the ideal candidate: "Steven Gerrard knows Rangers very well," he told NewBettingSites.uk.
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"He ticks a lot of boxes for everybody at the club, including the fans. He’s a figurehead who commands respect from everyone in the football community. He won the title with Rangers and if he’d been backed in the transfer market following that, I think he and the team could have gone on to great things.
"For those reasons, I think he would come back. The idea of working under a new ownership would be an attractive prospect for him. He’s a great guy who understands football and players know they can’t get away with anything under him. he ticks all the boxes."
Gerrard famously led Rangers to their 55th title in the 2020/21 season, stopping Celtic do 10 in a row in the process.
Widely considered a hero in Govan at the time, his two post-Rangers jobs haven't at all gone to plan.
Hately, however, doesn't think that impacts his managerial stock. He said (NewBettingSites.uk): "I don’t think Steven Gerrard’s time managing in the Saudi Pro League has damaged his credentials in any way.
"He went there for the experience and to test the waters, but it didn’t work out for him. It’s an experience he has in his locker now, working for a different organisation.
"He was a one-club man as a player, but it’s a lot harder to be a one-club manager! He went out of his comfort zone but I think it was good for him. Initially it will have left a bitter taste in his mouth because he hates failure and now he’ll want something new to get his teeth into."
Barry Ferguson will remain in interim charge of Rangers until the end of the season, although when the impending takeover from 49ers Enterprises is complete, they will likely seek a new dugout figurehead come the summer.
