Steven Gerrard has been in the spotlight of conversation since Rangers parted ways with Russell Martin on Sunday, and the ex-coach will talk about a possible return with the club's leadership.
Those in charge at Rangers announced that a "comprehensive, considered hiring procedure" is now underway.
Additional names will be considered, but if ex Liverpool and England skipper is willing to a return spell at Ibrox, could the position essentially his?
The 45-year-old coach has recently spoken about “remaining goals” in management and revealed he has started approaching prospective staff for his backroom team.
In a recent podcast interview with the former defender, appearing to be recorded prior to Martin's short reign ended, Gerrard expressed he wanted “to be at a club that's set to compete to win because I believe that fits me better”.
He continued: “If the suitable offer arrives, the appropriate team, the right challenge, and I've assembled my staff, which I plan to have at some point, I'll take that challenge on because it's in me.”
After gaining experience as a youth development manager at Liverpool, Gerrard took on his maiden coaching position in the mid-year of 2018.
During three full seasons at Rangers, he won just one trophy – however it was a big one.
After finishing 13 and nine points after their rivals in his initial pair of seasons, Gerrard guided Rangers to their first premiership championship in a decade, which coincidentally deny their Glasgow rivals an unprecedented tenth consecutive title.
And he did it impressively, with his team unbeaten throughout.
Rangers triumphed in all of their home games, scored 92 goals and conceded a only 13.
The drawback was that it came against a backdrop of the pandemic and empty stadiums.
It continues to be Rangers' sole league triumph since the 2010-11 season.
In stark contrast to Martin's unhappy spell, Gerrard started strongly at Rangers, remaining 12 games unbeaten until his first visit to Parkhead.
In his first campaign the derby results were shared, each side securing two home wins, with Rangers having last beaten Celtic in 2012.
A pair of defeats to Celtic came in the next truncated season, followed by Rangers securing a victory in the eastern part of Glasgow for the first time since 2010.
From then on, Gerrard remained undefeated in derbies, winning five more and drawing once.
Rangers came through four stages of qualifying to reach the main phase of the European competition in Gerrard's first season.
In the 2019-20 campaign, they advanced to the knockout rounds of the same competition, losing out to the German side in the round of 16, with their journey ending at the identical round the following season.
Aston Villa came calling in late 2021, forking out ÂŁ4.5m in compensation.
He departed Rangers four points clear of Celtic at the summit of the standings – however their city rivals would recover to prevail by the same margin.
The lure of the Premier League is strong and it may have been seen as the next logical step on a dream return to Liverpool at a point when his coaching reputation was at its peak.
“Steven and his backroom staff have ensured that the club is undoubtedly in a better place today than it was three-and-a-half years ago,” commented at the time Rangers football executive Ross Wilson.
“We have had a desire to advance the club, to update our facilities and to make the club win again.”
Gerrard did not last a full season at Aston Villa.
Inconsistent results resulted in a 14th-place position at the conclusion of the 2021-22 campaign before a 3-0 loss at Craven Cottage placed them in 17th in October 2022 when he was sacked.
Across 2022, he won just eight of his 31 games, losing 15.
He transferred to Saudi Arabia in summer 2023 when he assumed control at the Saudi club.
His most recent role lasted 18 months and he moved on with the team placed 12th in the Saudi Pro League, just five points above the drop zone.
“Overall, I have gained valuable experience, and it's been a positive journey personally and for my family,” he remarked in the end of January. “But football is uncertain, and at times events don't unfold the way we want.”
Those after Rangers exploits could cause certain hesitation and the man himself may have doubts over taking over a underperforming team, but Gerrard likely has the character to handle such a high-profile post.
He is the sole Rangers manager to have won the championship since the legendary Walter Smith. That achievement could be hard to ignore for an pressured Rangers leadership.
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