Former Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard breaks silence amid Rangers return talk

Steven Gerrard Breaks Silence Amid Strong Links to Rangers Return

Steven Gerrard has finally spoken out amid growing speculation linking him with a sensational return to Rangers. The former Aston Villa and Al-Ettifaq manager has emerged as the frontrunner to take charge at Ibrox following the dismissal of Russell Martin.

Reports suggest that the club’s American owners — Andrew Cavenagh and Paraag Marathe of 49ers Enterprises — have already held talks with Gerrard in London, with further meetings expected over the coming days. The group is said to be keen on bringing back the man who led Rangers to their historic 55th league title in 2021.

Amid the mounting rumours, Gerrard took to social media to post a message for his former assistant Tom Culshaw, sharing a photo and birthday greeting. Culshaw previously worked alongside Gerrard in the Liverpool academy before joining him at Rangers, then following him to Aston Villa and later to Saudi Arabia with Al-Ettifaq. Should Gerrard return to Ibrox, Culshaw is expected to be part of his backroom team once again, with Steve Holland also under consideration for an assistant role.

However, Rangers’ hierarchy are still exploring other managerial options. Cavenagh and Marathe have reportedly met with several candidates, including former Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Röhl, as they continue what they’ve described as a “rigorous and thoughtful” recruitment process.

Veteran journalist Hugh Keevins told Clyde 1 Superscoreboard that he expects an appointment soon:

“I’d be surprised if Rangers named a new manager just days after parting ways with Russell Martin. They’ve said this would be a careful process, and that means speaking to more than one candidate. I’d imagine by the middle of next week, Rangers will have a new manager — and I think it will be Steven Gerrard.”

Gerrard’s managerial career has been mixed since leaving Ibrox. He lasted less than a year at Aston Villa, winning just 13 of 40 matches before being replaced by Unai Emery, who has since guided Villa back into Europe. His move to the Saudi Pro League with Al-Ettifaq also drew criticism, with limited success on the pitch.

Speaking on talkSPORT, former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan offered a blunt assessment of Gerrard’s managerial record:

“I wasn’t impressed with him at Aston Villa — I think he got found out at that level. His move to Saudi Arabia made sense financially, but not from a footballing perspective.

If I were interviewing him, I’d want to know how he plans to fix problems, what his long-term vision is, and whether he’d stay loyal if another Premier League job came along. It’s not about what he did as a player; it’s about what he can deliver as a manager now.”

For now, Rangers supporters will have to wait to see whether the club’s American investors decide to bring back the man who once led them to glory — or if they’ll turn to a new face to lead the next chapter at Ibrox.