Rangers manager search: Steven Gerrard turns down chance to return to Ibrox

Steven Gerrard has turned down the chance to return to Rangers as manager, STV understands.

Gerrard had held talks with the Rangers hierarchy this week about the possibility of returning to Ibrox for a second spell, following the dismissal of Russell Martin.

The Englishman was installed as bookmaker’s favourite to be the club’s new manager but following discussions, it’s understood that Gerrard does not want to take talks any further forward and feels it’s not the right time to return to Glasgow.

While both sides are believed to have left the door open for the manager, who won the Premiership title in 2021, Rangers will now look elsewhere for Martin’s successor.

Gerrard, who was Ibrox boss between 2018 and 2021, had met with Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh, vice chairman Paraag Marathe and Gretar Steinsson in London to discuss the vacant position.

The former Liverpool star has been out of work since leaving Al Ettifaq in January but had been seen by many, including a significant portion of the Rangers support, as the right man to turn the team around after Martin’s disastrous tenure.

In an interview for Rio Ferdinand’s podcast that was released this week, Gerrard had spoken of his feeling he had “unfinished business” as a manager and would be back for the right opportunity.

“I’d love another go at some point,” Gerrard said. “I want to change a few things and improve a few things and come back fresh. With a few different people around myself.

“I’d love another couple of challenges doing this. And that’s what I’m working on in the background at the moment. A few different ideas, a few different people around me.

“Now, I’m enjoying family time and doing a lot of things that I haven’t been able to do. Going to Grand Prix, doing exhibition games with ex-teammates and superstars, that type of stuff’s been great.

“But there’s a part of me that still feels that there’s a bit of unfinished business in terms of wanting to go in and face another couple of exciting challenges. But I want a certain type of challenge.

“If in an ideal world they come available, I’ll jump at them. If they don’t, I won’t go back in. I want to be at a team that’s going to compete to win because I think that suits me better.

“I think certain jobs and certain clubs would suit my style and the way I like to go about it. But I’ve also got time now where I’m not in a rush, where I know the right people that are out there to make me a stronger and a better coach. They’re the people I need to find.

“Because if I get the right match with them people around me, I know and I’ve proved I can be successful as a manager. And that’s what I’m working on in the background now.”