Steven Gerrard has decided against joining Rangers as head coach for a second spell, Sky Sports reports.
The Liverpool legend was one of the frontrunners for the job after the sacking of Russell Martin earlier this week.
In his first spell, Gerrard led Rangers to the first league trophy in 10 years, and he remains a popular figure among the fans.
However, he felt that the timing was not quite right for him to return to Ibrox and ruled himself out of the race.
He retains a good relationship with the Rangers hierarchy, and both sides have left the door open to a reunion in the future.
Gerrard has been out of work since January, when he left Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq.
Steven Gerrard is no stranger to Rangers. He managed the club from 2018 to 2021, and achieved a major milestone by winning the Scottish Premiership title in 2021 — the club’s first in a decade.
After leaving Rangers, Gerrard took up roles at Aston Villa and later at Saudi club Al Ettifaq, departing from the latter in January 2025.
Rangers, meanwhile, found themselves in a difficult position: their current manager, Russell Martin, was sacked after just 123 days in charge amid poor results.
Rangers engaged in talks with Gerrard over a possible return, with both sides described as holding “open and constructive discussions”.
However, after consideration, Gerrard confirmed that he will not be returning at this time. The main reason: the timing isn’t right for him.
From the reports:
Gerrard felt the situation at the club, or perhaps the circumstances around the job, were not ideal for him right now.
He expressed gratitude to Rangers’ fans for their support and left the door open to a potential return in the future.
Summary
In short: Steven Gerrard has decided against returning to Rangers at this time after discussions, citing timing as his main reason. For Rangers, it’s a setback in their search for the next head coach, and means they must broaden their search. For Gerrard, it appears to be a careful choice about where and when he next manages.
If you like, I can pull together a full article with quotes, background on his previous stint at Rangers and how this decision might affect the club’s future. Would you like that?