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Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard might be on the brink of an emotional comeback to Rangers after Russell Martin was fired. The former Southampton boss was relieved of his duties at Ibrox on Sunday evening.
Martin only joined the club during the summer, but he quickly found himself under intense scrutiny, particularly from the fanbase. He secured merely one win from seven league fixtures during his tenure.
Sunday's disappointing 1-1 draw with Falkirk sealed his fate, with Rangers stuck in eighth place – a massive 11 points behind the leaders, reports the Mirror. Following the match, Martin was required to travel separately from the team bus and needed a security presence.
As rumours swirled about the manager's position, Rangers released a statement late on Sunday night.
"Rangers Football Club confirms that it has parted company with head coach, Russell Martin," it read.
"While all transition periods require some time, results have not met the club's expectations. Assistant head coach, Matt Gill, and first-team Coach, Mike Williamson, will also be departing.
"Russell and his staff have worked exceptionally hard throughout their time at the club. We thank them for their efforts and wish them well for the future. Further updates from the club will follow in due course."
The search for Martin's replacement has commenced, with bookmakers installing Gerrard as the early frontrunner.
Should he be appointed, it would mark his return to the very club that gave him his first chance as a senior boss.
After cutting his managerial teeth with Liverpool's youth teams, Gerrard took the helm at Rangers in the summer of 2018, guiding them to Scottish Premiership triumph in the 2020/21 season.
However, he swapped Glasgow for Aston Villa in November 2021, only to be given his marching orders less than a year later.
His most recent stint was with Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ettifaq, but he parted ways with the club in January this year.
As per The Guardian, Gerrard is now a 'strong contender' for the recently vacated role at Ibrox.
However, he's likely to face fierce competition from former Sheffield Wednesday gaffer Danny Rohl and ex-Everton boss Sean Dyche, both currently without a club.
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