The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Kop idol in pole position for Rangers hotseat
Steven Gerrard is the “frontrunner” to become the next Rangers boss, according to club sources.
It is understood the former Liverpool and England skipper has jumped straight to the top of the club’s wish list after talks began last week.
The 37-year-old hung up his boots after a 12-month stint with LA Galaxy and has spent the time since cutting his teeth with the under-18s team at the Reds.
Rangers chairman Dave King was spotted at Anfield on Tuesday night as Liverpool took on Roma in their Champions League semi-final – a match where Gerrard was working as a television pundit. Now he has emerged as the leading candidate to take over at Ibrox.
Talks are at an early stage but Rangers have made it clear they are interested in handing Gerrard his first chance at first-team management.
Graeme Murty remains the man in charge having been asked to step into the Ibrox breach following Pedro Caixinha’s sacking last October – but his days in Glasgow’s south side appear numbered.
The bookmakers have already installed Gerrard as the odds-on favourite to succeed the Light Blues’ former academy boss in the Govan hotseat.
Former Rangers manager and current Scotland boss Alex McLeish says Gerrard will have to learn on the job if he does make the move to Scotland.
He added: “He knows the game inside out but as regards coaching, then I’m sure he has got some things to learn. He won’t have all the answers for that, but I’m certain that some day he could be a great manmanager.”