Steven Gerrard hints at Rangers return and sheds light on 'interesting phone calls'

Steven Gerrard has suggested that he would be open to returning to Rangers for a second spell in charge. He has been heavily linked with the Glasgow giants after Russell Martin was relieved of his duties over the weekend. Gerrard was previously at Rangers between 2018 and 2021 and remains the last manager to deliver them a Scottish Premiership title.

The former Liverpool midfielder has reportedly emerged as a strong candidate for the current vacancy at Ibrox. Rangers are yet to make a firm decision on their next manager but Gerrard is believed to be among the shortlisted names. He was quizzed on a potential return to management on the podcast and hinted that he would be open to accepting the role.

Rangers were the first club to give Gerrard a chance in senior management and he reflected on his time at Ibrox with fondness, describing it as the 'perfect match'.

"When I stopped playing football, it was a big void for me," he said. "And even though I knew my body was ready to pack in, and feelings and blah, blah, blah, and I couldn't really be the player I wanted to be, I was probably ready at the time.

"Missed it every single day and I still miss it now as a player. I qualified to do my badges when I went into my thirties and I ended up getting my pro license, went into Liverpool's academy. Enjoyed a lot of that.

"But it was the managing side of it that I enjoyed. The one-to-one motivating players, seeing that I could make a difference with a player to get more out of that individual player.

"Then I got the opportunity to go to Rangers and I loved it. I felt like it was the perfect match and it went on from there."

Asked what the future might hold, Gerrard revealed that he has been approached by several clubs since leaving Al-Ettifaq earlier this year. He also said that he was ready for the 'right challenge' to come along.

"I've had five or six really interesting phone calls since I stopped in Saudi and I haven't been ready because I haven't got that team set around me," he explained.

"The timing hasn't been right. My daughter's just had a baby. I've just become a granddad. I wasn't ready. I haven't got my staff ready, so unfortunately, those opportunities or those phone calls have come at the wrong time, if you like.

"But if the right call comes my way, the right club, the right challenge, and I've got my people set, which I will have at some point, I'll take that challenge on because it's in me."

Listen to the full Rio Meets Steven Gerrard interview on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.