There are positives and negatives as far as I can see to Rangers appointing Steven Gerrard as their boss for next season.
If reports are to be believed, the former Liverpool captain and current Reds under-18s gaffer will replace Graeme Murty at Ibrox.
It’s easy to look at a manager’s lack of experience, and Gerrard’s goes as far as his current Colts charges, and write him off.
Not that long ago, the Gers brought in Paul Le Guen – a man who had won four consecutive championships with French side Lyon, as well as leading them to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals – a man who was considered to have pedigree.
Le Guen was an abject failure at Ibrox, so it’s been shown history is not everything.
Sometimes a personality just fits a club and their players.
There are parallels with Graeme Souness’ stint as Gers boss, where he was player-manager and brought in players like England captain Terry Butcher, to an extent starting a new era in the Scottish game.
A Champions League-winning legendary player being involved is a boost for the profile of the Scottish game, there’s no denying it, in the same way Gerrard’s ex-boss Brendan Rodgers being appointed Celtic manager was good for the nation’s game.
Gerrard will need the club to be managed well at board level and financial backing if he’s going to make anything of the job.
I don’t know if he’s a good coach, but let’s be honest, anything less than second will not be good enough and challenging Celtic once more will be the real aim.
The fact Rangers are already signing players with a view to next term is a red flag, and Gerrard has to realise the depth of feeling and emotions among the Ibrox faithful as the team attempt to stop the Hoops’ 10 in a row.
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