Gerrard will need a team of skippers, insists Rae
FEW have epitomised the captain’s role quite as much as Steven Gerrard. Handed the Liverpool armband by Gerard Houllier aged just 23, it remained his property for the next 12 years and was worn when proudly hoisting the 2005 Champions League trophy in Istanbul.
That ingrained sense of leadership was no less prominent for his country. Only four men have captained England more often.
Skipper for 38 of his 114 caps, Gerrard became a role model for younger players progressing into the squad.
It would seem obvious, then, that he will pay careful attention to his choice of dressing-room lieutenant at Rangers. A summer of change at Ibrox might well see a different captain emerge.
Lee Wallace still officially carries that title despite having been suspended since mid-April after his part in an alleged exchange with then-manager Graeme Murty.
While a club investigation into the incident is thought to have been concluded, the outcome has not yet been released.
Gerrard will obviously have the final call, but it remains possible Wallace could be sold this summer. If so, what then? During the leftback’s extended injury absence, Graham Dorrans, Kenny Miller, Bruno Alves and Danny Wilson were among those to don the armband before it settled with James Tavernier for the final part of a distinctly underwhelming campaign.
Tavernier remains one of Rangers’ better performers but has yet to fully convince he is a natural captain. And so a vacancy might yet arise.
Whoever is chosen, former Ibrox midfielder Alex Rae is confident Gerrard will address a lack of leadership he feels has been to the detriment of his former club in recent times.
‘It all depends on how people react to this,’ said Rae, pondering the potential options. ‘Steven will hope to bring in a level of player that will complement what is already there.
‘The obvious question is who stays and who goes. But you also don’t know who will step up a level or two when they get the kind of support and guidance from the new management team that I feel has been missing.
‘Steven Gerrard and Gary McAllister will, I’m sure, have very clear ideas about where they want to take the club. They will decide upon a captain, a vice-captain and there will be a hierarchy there. ‘But you also need a spread of players who can lead by example on the pitch. Steven will be able to identify them because that was a quality he had in abundance. ‘The more guys who you can give the captaincy to, the better. In my day, you had Barry Ferguson and Fernando Ricksen. Dado Prso was a leader, as was Marvin Andrews in his own way. That is more important that one individual. ‘It’s about people who you can rely on no matter what. And where Rangers are at the moment, I think they will be looking for leaders. ‘If younger guys like Alfredo Morelos and Greg Docherty can get guidance from those leadership figures, and get them behind what Steven Gerrard is trying to do, then that can only be a benefit.’ Rae feels one positive step has already been taken with the return of goalkeeper Allan McGregor to Rangers on a two-year contract. ‘I think McGregor will be a really good signing,’ he added. ‘He had a wee bit of a carry-on when he was younger, like most people have. ‘But you are getting someone well versed in English football, European football, international football. To me, that can only benefit the other guys there. ‘We will need to wait and see what Steven Gerrard wants to do but I know how much it means to be Rangers captain. I did it when we beat Dundee United 7-1 in the 2005 League Cup semi-final. ‘It meant the world to me. You become part of an elite group of people. ‘When I get asked about my favourite memories of games, people often talk about beating Celtic, which is always nice. ‘But from a personal point of view, it was leading the team out at Hampden with the armband. ‘It was something really special.’