Steven Gerrard explains why he rejected Rangers return

Steven Gerrard has revealed just how close he came to returning to Rangers last month after Russell Martin was sacked, and why he ultimately chose to step aside and allow the club to move forward without him.

Speaking on TNT Sports tonight, Gerrard confirmed that he came “very close” to returning to the club as manager and held “positive” talks with Rangers during the managerial search, but timing and personal circumstances prevented a reunion.

The former Ibrox boss, who led Rangers to the 2020/21 Scottish Premiership title, winning it undefeated to end Celtic's hopes of 10-in-a-row, stressed that if he was going to return, everything needed to be “perfect”.

He said: “It had to be perfect – I had to be 100% ready

“[I came] very close, I had some really positive and interesting talks with the owners.

“But it felt a bit rushed to me because I had my family in Bahrain at the time, I had a lot to think about in a short space of time to give a decision.

“There were a few things that I was uncertain about and if I'm going to take a challenge that big and that important, I've got that affection and that connection with Rangers, for me to take that on again, it had to be perfect and I had to be 100% ready.

“Unfortunately, I wasn't due to the timing, so I stepped aside and I wish them all the best.”

Gerrard made clear that the decision was not down to a lack of interest or emotional connection.

Instead, he felt that returning anything less than fully prepared would not have been fair to the club or the support.

Family and football considerations

When asked whether concerns over structure or direction played a role in the decision, Gerrard explained: “No, the timing wasn't right from a family point of view.

“But of course you have to do your due diligence in certain things and if things are not perfect as well, I have to analyse, is it right for me?

“My heart was there, and it always will be with Rangers, but I've also got to look in the football side of it.

“Is the timing right and is things perfect for me to be the best version of myself in that job?

“Unfortunately the timing, I didn't feel right to me.”

The emotional connection remains clear. Gerrard spoke as a man who still sees Rangers as his club.

A possible return in the future?

Gerrard didn’t rule out a future comeback.

“I wouldn't go in there if I was 80, 90% ready, but hopefully one day I'll be more ready and more prepared for it and that chance might come again.

“If it doesn't, I wish the club all the very best moving forward, but my heart was 100% there because I've got that connection with the club.”

Watching as a fan

Gerrard finished by offering support to the new management team and to the squad heading into tomorrow's Scottish League Cup semi-final against Celtic : “I watch as a fan from afar and I wish them all the best certainly tomorrow in the Old Firm game.”

As one door closes another one has opened - now, the focus is fully on Danny Röhl, who has been tasked with building something new.

Gerrard, like the rest of us, will be watching and hoping for a Rangers revival.