Gerrard hails his predecessors
As his team close in on their first Premiership title in 10 years, Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has paid tribute to the men who he believes laid the foundations.
Walter Smith, Ally McCoist, Mark Warburton and Pedro Caixinha have been singled out for praise.
Gerrard said: “I have respect for all the managers that have gone before me, not just the successful ones.”
It won’t be long until Steven Gerrard is acclaimed as the manager that completed Rangers’ journey back to the top.
Winning the Premiership title will help to soothe a lot of the pain that accompanied the Ibrox club’s financial meltdown in 2012.
They were forced to claw their way back up from League Two with legendary striker Ally McCoist as manager.
It has taken Gerrard nearly three years to transform Rangers’ on-field fortunes, but he maintains the current success is not all his doing.
He believes it could not have been done without the work of previous bosses – even if, like Pedro Caixinha, they didn’t set the heather on fire.
Gerrard said: “I have respect for all the managers that have gone before me, not just the successful ones.
“There are guys that have been successful in a different way – like Ally McCoist, who went down the leagues and stayed with the club.
“I’m a massive fan of him as a player and a guy. I’ve been lucky enough to be in his company.
“This is a pressured situation, and a pressured job, to be in.
“It doesn’t work for everyone, but I still respect managers that have come here and given it a right good go.
“Just because you haven’t had success doesn’t mean you haven’t played your part.
“There are still players here who were brought in by previous managers – Mark Warburton, for example.
“Pedro brought Alfredo Morelos in, so I think you have to respect all the previous managers.
“People take the job at stages and different times under different situations.
“Some had the luxury of being able to spend big money and be involved in the Champions League.
“They were able to attract players from Holland and the best players from down south.
“In recent times, Rangers managers haven’t had that luxury, but the board have tried to make this club better, and I appreciate and respect that.
“That’s the reason we’re all so desperate to bring success back.”
Gerrard doesn’t pretend to have an in-depth knowledge of the problems Rangers faced after they were taken over by Craig Whyte.
But he’s well aware of the anguish felt by the supporters.
He went on: “I was only aware of the club’s situation from afar. “I’m not going to sit and say I knew about every detail or challenge they had to face back then.
“But as someone who looked in on Scottish football for two-and-a-half decades as a young kid – watching Celtic v Rangers games on Sky – I’m very respectful of all the hard work that’s gone on before me from previous managers, coaches and players.
“I’m very aware of the supporters and everything they’ve been through.
“I know about the pain everyone shared.
“Hopefully, when we get to where we want to get to, it will be the time to mention all of those people.
“It’s certainly not a case of it just being about us and this roll we’re on.”
The Ibrox boss added: “It’s not about this group of players, or us as a
staff taking all the credit, not at all.”
One very popular former manager is still playing a part in the current success.
Gerrard added: “I bounce a lot of things off Walter Smith.
“I use him as an unofficial mentor, if you like.
“Obviously, there were successful managers before Walter – Graeme Souness, who was a hero of mine and a hero of my dad’s, growing up.”
Managers have been fired left, right and centre in recent weeks.
Frank Lampard left Chelsea after 18 months in charge and, closer to home, Alex Dyer departed Kilmarnock just 14 months into his reign.
Gerrard survived two trophy-less seasons at Rangers, but reveals that the Light Blues board were aware he might not bring overnight success.
He said: “I don’t consider myself lucky. “We had numerous conversations with the chairman and the board to say: ‘Look, I’m a new manager coming in here who lacks experience and I’m taking on a huge challenge.
“‘I’m ready for the challenge, I’m excited, I’m appreciative of the opportunity, but we are going to have some moments where I might need your support’.
“I wasn’t surprised by the support but I was very grateful.
“You cannot just appoint a manager and expect everything to be fantastic in a matter of months.
“Sometimes it takes time, and it is a long process.
“The board were very aware where the club was at when I took this role, and the monumental challenge that was in front of us all.”