If Rangers decide to part ways with current manager Russell Martin, the club may look to bring back Steven Gerrard to lead the team, according to GIVEMESPORT’s senior correspondent Ben Jacobs. Gerrard, now 45, was reportedly close to being offered the job during the summer by 49ers Enterprises.
Pressure is mounting on Martin after Rangers’ recent loss to Hearts left them nine points behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership. Martin has also made unwanted history as the first Rangers manager in nearly five decades to go winless in his first five league matches, intensifying speculation about his future at the club.
Steven Gerrard Open to Rangers Return If Martin Is Dismissed
Steven Gerrard could be interested in returning to Rangers if current manager Russell Martin is let go in the near future, according to GIVEMESPORT’s Ben Jacobs. Gerrard was strongly considered for the role earlier this year and was reportedly among the final candidates before the club ultimately opted to appoint Martin.
Jacobs explained that Gerrard was seriously in contention, with 49ers Enterprises placing him on a shortlist of three. Though Martin secured the job, Gerrard was close to reclaiming the position he left in 2021. If Martin is dismissed, talk of Gerrard’s potential return to Ibrox is likely to intensify.
Gerrard’s first spell at Rangers, from 2018 to 2021, saw him lead the club to an unbeaten Scottish Premiership title in the 2020/21 season. He departed shortly after to manage Aston Villa in the Premier League a move that drew criticism from some Rangers supporters. Now, after leaving Al-Ettifaq in January 2025, the 45-year-old is reportedly looking for a new challenge.
Meanwhile, pressure continues to mount on Martin. Chairman Andrew Cavenagh has flown in to review the club’s difficult start and is expected to hold discussions about Martin’s future, especially with a crucial League Cup quarter-final against Hibernian approaching this weekend.
