A sensational return to Rangers could be on the horizon for Steven Gerrard following his recent departure from Al-Ettifaq.
The 44-year-old is now available after leaving the Saudi Pro League club by mutual consent just over a week ago, concluding a challenging 18-month tenure. Since his exit, he has been linked with clubs such as Carlisle United, Derby County, and Wycombe Wanderers, alongside speculation about a potential return to Rangers.
At Ibrox, Gerrard famously guided the club to the Scottish Premiership title in 2021—their first in a decade. Now, Rangers legend Ally McCoist believes a return to Glasgow could be precisely what the former Liverpool captain needs after a couple of underwhelming managerial stints.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if Steven Gerrard came back to Ibrox,” McCoist told talkSPORT BET. “He’s obviously held in really high regard by the supporters because of the league title he won, and his next job is going to be vitally important for him.
“Things haven’t gone according to plan for him after he left Rangers. A little bit like Frank Lampard going to Coventry – his next appointment was really important to him as well, so we’ll see what Steven ends up choosing to do with his career.”
The idea of a potential Ibrox return for Gerrard seems to have support from both sides of the Old Firm divide, with former Celtic manager Neil Lennon suggesting that nothing should be “ruled out,” echoing McCoist’s sentiments.
“Steven Gerrard back to Rangers? You never know in football,” the Irishman told Casino Uden Rofus. “You never know where the next project or next adventure will take you. You can never rule anything like that out.
“At the minute, Philippe Clement is steadying the ship with Rangers. He’ll want to make progression and inroads into the rest of the season and obviously build for next year. But in the future, who knows.”
Gerrard’s managerial career took a downturn after he left Rangers to join Aston Villa in 2021. He lasted just 11 months in the role and was sacked midway through the 2022/23 season after Villa won only two of their opening 12 Premier League games.
At Al-Ettifaq, Gerrard struggled to make progress despite the arrival of overseas talent, including former Liverpool duo Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum, who joined in 2023. The club finished sixth in the Saudi Pro League last season but had dropped to 11th by the time Gerrard departed.
Rangers have also faced challenges since Gerrard’s exit, finishing second behind Celtic in each of the last three seasons. They appear set for a fourth consecutive runners-up finish, currently trailing their arch-rivals by 13 points in the league.
Rangers boss Philippe Clement, who took over from Michael Beale in October 2023, signed a contract extension in the summer, which runs until 2028, shortly after winning the Scottish League Cup. However, results this season have been disappointing, and if the gap between Rangers and Celtic continues to widen, his position could come under threat.
