Rangers new manager: 49ers stance on Steven Gerrard emerges in ‘huge’ claim
The 49ers have a decision to make regarding Steven Gerrard once their takeover of Rangers is finalised.
Rangers are on the verge of an American takeover, with key members of the deal receiving a guided tour of Ibrox on Tuesday, 29 April.
Andrew Cavenagh and Paraag Marathe were among those who were present, as Patrick Stewart and Fraser Thornton rolled out the red carpet for them.
The prospective owners have found a way to acquire a 51 per cent controlling stake in Rangers, although an announcement is still a few weeks away.
Scott McDermott delivers Gerrard to Rangers verdict
One of the biggest decisions the new owners have to make after their takeover is the appointment of a new manager, as Barry Ferguson nears the end of his stint as their caretaker.
Jose Mourinho is said to be open to taking the reins at Ibrox, but Gerrard has emerged as the favourite candidate to lead the Gers forward under the new ownership.
Assessing the possibility of a Rangers reunion for the Liverpool icon, Scott McDermott explained that he would tick a lot of the boxes for Cavenagh and Co.
| Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals | Points | Points Per Match |
| 192 | 124 | 41 | 27 | 407:139 | 413 | 2.15 |
The journalist is certain that Gerrard’s profile would appeal to the 49ers, considering his own track record with the Light Blues and the fact that he is a free agent.
However, he is unsure if the English tactician would be open to returning to Glasgow at this stage in his managerial career.
“Gerrard ticks a lot of boxes for obvious reasons”, McDermott said on Hotline Live (29 April).
“The big question is, will he want to come back? There would be some hoops to jump through, coming from his last job in Saudi.
“I’m not convinced he does want to come back to Rangers at this stage in his career, maybe. Maybe further down the line.
“But for the American, he has got a huge profile worldwide, I think he would appeal to them, and obviously his history at Rangers.
“He’s the guy who stopped 10 in a row [for Celtic], won the last league title, and he’s out of work.”
49ers to snub Gerrard
While Gerrard is remembered fondly in Rangers for leading them to Premiership glory and preventing Celtic from winning 10 titles in a row in 2021, there are doubts about his credibility as a manager.
The 44-year-old won several accolades, including the Premiership Manager of the Year award, as the Gers boss, but his record on either side of his three-year spell in Govan is not as promising as some might think.
He struggled to replicate the success he achieved at Rangers during his last spells at Aston Villa and Al-Ettifaq.
It is also worth noting that Gerrard would be without his trusted right-hand man, Michael Beale, if he were to return to Glasgow.
Beale’s stint as the Rangers manager between 2022 and 2023 turned sour, and it is hard to see him being welcomed back at the club.