Steven Gerrard return to Rangers mooted after Michael Beale sacking amid ‘character and personality to lead’ verdict – BBC pundit
Kenny Miller has suggested that Steven Gerrard could “come into the reckoning” at Rangers as they look to appoint a new manager.
The BBC Sport pundit suggested the last title-winning Gers boss deserves consideration when speaking on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard on 2 October, backing him based on the “character and personality to lead”.
Gerrard, 43, left Ibrox after winning the 55th title to take over at Aston Villa in the Premier League, but lasted less than a year and is currently in charge of Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League.
Miller said (1h 35m 10s): “I wonder if former manager Stevie G would come into the reckoning? I know he’s got a big, heavy salary across in Saudi at the moment, but he’s somebody that delivered the last title.”
“Bring Michael Beale back as his number two? The mastermind?” suggested a smirking Gordon Duncan.
“Well listen, stranger things have happened,” continued Miller. “He definitely carries the character and personality to lead, that’s what I would say.”
Thinking inside the box
On the face of it the suggestion seems pretty ludicrous but when Brendan Rodgers is back at Celtic it is perhaps impossible to completely rule anything out.
Rangers tried to get the band back together by giving the job to Beale, but the former assistant disproved the theory that he was the brains behind the previous success and it hasn’t worked out at all.
The Light Blues aren’t going to be able to get anywhere near whatever Gerrard is earning in the Middle East though so the chances of it becoming a reality are pretty slim, unless his ego is tempted by the idea of returning as a saviour.
Ideally the club needs to move forward into a new era with a proven manager who has a long-term plan rather than attempting to revive old glories, which hasn’t worked out with Beale.
But if it is accurate that Gerrard’s long-time England midfield partner Frank Lampard is surging ahead in the running then Rangers would probably be better off calling their former manager and seeing if he wants to give it another go.
Ultimately, any appointment is a risk at the start but some certainly seem more so than others, and even the former Liverpool legend was a gamble at the time.
Any coach who has a viable plan to put to good use the players that have been brought in this summer surely has a head start right now, since they were supposed to be the dawn of the new era and yet another overhaul is unlikely.
In theory there is plenty to work with at Ibrox but with virtually everyone either injured and badly underperforming a major lift is required.
In other Rangers news, the club are seeking to hold talks with a multiple league-title winner over filling the vacancy.