Rangers manager news: fans reveal who they want as Ibrox boss | OneFootball

The buzz around Ibrox is intensifying as Rangers supporters call for Steven Gerrard to return as manager. Why wouldn’t they want him back? After all, he piloted the club to a Scottish Premiership title two years ago when they were still in the financial doldrums. He turned the Light Blues into genuine contenders and gave Celtic a serious run for their money. Now that Gerrard is out of work and, reportedly, eager to jump back into management, it’s no wonder his name has popped up along with the prospects of not just taking over at the club but also in reviving the sort of instant success he had at Rangers. The “Stevie G” factor has added a sizeable amount of buzz and anticipation to a point where the supporters just want to see him back in the dugout at Ibrox. The anticipation is fueled by the belief that Gerrard’s return could reignite the passion and drive that once propelled Rangers to success.

In a recent Ibrox Noise poll, half the responses wanted Gerrard, with Barry second and Jose third.

But is it really that simple?

Supporters are dreaming on a grand scale—Gerrard understands the essence of Ibrox. Yet, as Ally McCoist insightfully notes, this isn’t merely about experiencing nostalgia or hearing chants from adoring fans. The club is again in need of serious reform on the field and behind the scenes. Gerrard, or any manager for that matter, would need to “work his magic” again. The range of problems confronting Rangers goes beyond the relatively straightforward solution of hiring a man who knows Scottish football. Despite the budget increase that the new owners, 49ers Enterprises, have allocated and the prospect of smarter signings, being made in California or elsewhere, Rangers remain a club in need of drastic positive change.

When it comes to Gerrard’s prospects in the immediate future—when he might return to “the office”—there haven’t been many strong clues. He hasn’t come close to saying that he’ll be back at Ibrox after this year is out. But, as we know, he is not too far removed from that particular end of the managerial touchline and hasn’t closed the book on working in our domestic game. He has, after all, worked here for four years. And in a time frame compressed by the pandemic, Gerrard and his management team have, more or less, been a raging success. In most of the ways that count, this has been a successful first act of managerial life for our main man.

We stand at this intriguing juncture: supporters of a club craving triumph want their erstwhile leader back—decked out, naturally, in club colors—for reasons that make perfect sense if you’re a fan. Just as importantly, in the context of football decisions writ large, it’s one of those potential moves that could make perfect sense. It could turn out to be a “Bring Him Home” scenario. But as we’re about to see, this would require much more than the time-honored practice of football management.