Steven Gerrard truly became Rangers boss with golden words in France but second coming raises big questions

Daily Record

21-05-2025

The sun was splitting the sky in Fos-sur-Mer this Friday night.
It was typical weather for the south of France and a few pasty-faced Scottish journalists were desperate for a bit of shade.
But that wasn't an option. Not until we got inside the Stade Parsemain, one of the venues for the 2018 Toulon Tournament.
And certainly not until we'd got a glimpse of the man we were there to see.
Suddenly, he emerged. Shades on, white t-shirt glistening, Steven Gerrard was here.
It was effectively his first day as Rangers manager. Friday 1 June.
But instead of being in Govan, he was 30 miles from Marseille and watching England's U20's v Qatar.
Gerrard was barely recognised by anyone in the tiny crowd who were there.
In the stands, he sat with Peter Schmeichel and others who were on the same FA Pro Licence course as the new Ibrox gaffer.
His old England pals, Frank Lampard and Jody Morris, weren't far away either as they scouted players for their club, Derby County.
But our job was to get a word with Gerrard.
When we'd got wind of his arrival outside, we scampered to follow him in.
Then we had to pluck up the courage to go and ask this legend of the game if he'd speak to us.
But, like most of his interviews over the next four years in Glasgow, his words were golden.
We had articles in the bag for the daily newspapers AND the Sunday editions. He gave us everything we needed.
For that 10 minutes or so, Gerrard was as compelling as he'd been a month previously at his unveiling in Ibrox's blue room.
He'd turned up with a clenched fist and a glint in his eye - immediately captivating a Rangers support desperate for a hero.
Someone to lead them out of the abyss and topple Celtic.
And at that time, Gerrard had fire in his belly. He was a fresh-faced coach, hungry to succeed as a manager at a big club.
You could sense it in France that day. He was ready to go.
Now, here we are again. Scrambling around, trying to hunt him down, even if the Glasgow sun isn't as hot as Fos-sur-Mer.
Gerrard has been heavily linked with a sensational return to Ibrox as boss. Is it the right move?
With a guy like him, a superstar who achieved miraculous things as a player - it's dangerous to ever question or under-estimate his desire.
But the question now, and the one Rangers' new owners and hierarchy will have asked themselves, is if it will be the same Gerrard second time around.
Maybe it will be. Maybe now is his time to right the wrongs of that hasty exit to Aston Villa in 2021.
Maybe after being battle-scarred in Birmingham and having a stint in Saudi, Gerrard feels Glasgow can be the spark again as it was in 2018.
If that's the case, why wouldn't you give him the job? He ticks a lot of the boxes fans wanted ticked.
Gerrard knows the Scottish game now. He understands Rangers as a club, in terms of the pressure, demands and intensity.
He won't be fazed by going up against Brendan Rodgers.
And crucially, he knows what it takes to win here. Because whatever happens, he'll forever be remembered by supporters as the man who delivered 55 and stopped the 10.
If he's still got that same thirst for success and burning determination to get Rangers back on top again - let's go, as he once said.
But if he doesn't? If he's lost any of that insatiable appetite to succeed, it might not be the job for him.
Remember, when he arrived here seven years ago the level of expectation was low at Ibrox.
Gerrard was allowed the time to put building blocks in place. To mould a squad in his image.
To gradually restore their reputation in Europe and to - eventually - become champions again at the third time of asking.
It's a different ball game at Gers now. Of course, there's optimism and excitement around the prospective American takeover.
That might fuel Gerrard to jump in again.
But his feet won't touch the floor this time. Supporters want to win NOW.
They're already four-in-a-row behind Celtic, who have upwards of £70 million cash reserves in the bank, with potentially more to come via the Champions League.
And Rodgers has them purring again.
So it would be a massive challenge facing Gerrard if he's the one who ends up in the hot seat.
The current squad needs to be completely overhauled. There's a European qualifier in just four weeks time.
He would need proper backing from 49ers Enterprises, as well as the support of a new-look backroom team.
I'm sure the fans would flock to Ibrox for his second coming if it happens.
And this summer, just like at that Toulon Tournament, we'd be chasing him around, hanging on his every word.
There's no doubt Gerrard would talk the talk again.
Whether he's the same guy who can walk the walk by stopping Celtic and wrestling the title back to Ibrox?
That's another thing altogether.