Steven Gerrard has officially ruled himself out of the running to become the next Rangers manager, the PA news agency has reported.
The 45-year-old had been the early favourite to replace Russell Martin, who was sacked last weekend after a poor start to the season. However, after holding positive talks with the Ibrox board, Gerrard decided that the timing was not right for a return to Glasgow.
According to sources close to the club, discussions between Gerrard and Rangers officials were described as “constructive and respectful,” with both sides agreeing to keep the door open for a potential reunion in the future.
Steven Gerrard Decides Timing “Not Right” for Ibrox Comeback
Steven Gerrard, who last managed Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia before leaving the role in January, remains a beloved figure among Rangers supporters. During his first spell in charge, he famously guided the club to their first Scottish Premiership title in a decade during the 2020–21 season — ending Celtic’s nine-year dominance.
Despite the emotional ties, Gerrard reportedly feels that now is not the ideal moment to return to Ibrox as the club looks to stabilize following a turbulent start to the 2025–26 campaign.
Rangers’ Current Situation
Russell Martin’s dismissal came after Rangers managed just one win in seven league matches, leaving them struggling near the bottom half of the William Hill Premiership table.
In the meantime, Under-19 coach Steven Smith has stepped in to lead first-team training, supported by B-team coach Brian Gilmour, goalkeeping coach Sal Bibbo, and head of performance Rhys Owen.
Gerrard on His Future in Management
Speaking recently on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Gerrard hinted that he still has ambitions to return to top-level management but only under the right circumstances.
“I’ve got a bit of unfinished business in management,” Gerrard said. “I want to be at a team that’s going to compete to win because I think that suits me better.”
His comments underline his desire to take on another challenging project — but one that aligns with his competitive mindset and long-term goals.
Who Will Replace Russell Martin at Rangers?
With Gerrard out of the picture, Rangers’ search for a new head coach continues. Among the candidates linked with the job are:
Derek McInnes, current Hearts manager and former Aberdeen boss
Kevin Muscat, ex-Rangers player and former Yokohama F. Marinos head coach
Sean Dyche, former Everton and Burnley manager
The club is expected to conduct further interviews in the coming days as they look to appoint a permanent successor before the next round of league fixtures.
