For Steven Gerrard, few clubs hold the same emotional pull as Rangers.
The Liverpool legend, who famously guided the Glasgow side to their first Scottish Premiership title in a decade back in 2021, recently revealed that he came close to taking charge at Ibrox once again — but ultimately decided against it.
Gerrard Explains Why He Said No
Speaking candidly to TNT Sports, Gerrard shared that his decision to reject the Rangers job wasn’t easy.
After Russell Martin was sacked on October 5 following a poor start to the season, Gerrard quickly became one of the club’s top choices to replace him.
Talks were held, and everything seemed to be moving fast.
“In terms of Rangers, it was very close,” Gerrard admitted. “I had some really positive and interesting conversations with the owners.
But it just felt a bit rushed. My family was in Bahrain at the time, and I had a lot to think about in a short space of time.
For me, if you take on a challenge that big, it has to be perfect — and you have to be 100 percent ready.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t due to the timing, so I stepped aside.”
He added warmly, “My heart was there completely — I’ll always have that connection with the club. I wish them all the best going forward.”
Rangers Move Forward with a New Boss
With Gerrard stepping back, Rangers appointed Danny Rohl — formerly of Sheffield Wednesday — as their new manager.
The 35-year-old German now faces the daunting task of reviving a team that’s managed just three wins in their opening ten league games.
Gerrard, who held initial discussions in London, was said to be interested in greater control over transfers if he were to return.
Ultimately, however, he informed Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh and vice-chairman Paraag Marathe that he would be withdrawing from consideration.
Family Comes First
Another factor in Gerrard’s decision seems to have been family.
The former England captain recently became a grandfather at just 45 years old after his eldest daughter, Lilly-Ella, welcomed a baby girl in July.
Lilly, a 21-year-old influencer, shared the news on Instagram with a touching black-and-white photo of her boyfriend, Lee Byrne, leaving the hospital carrying their newborn daughter.
She captioned it simply, “@leebyrne8 2 becomes 3.”
Gerrard, who shares four children with his wife Alex — Lilly, Lexie (19), Lourdes (14), and Lio (8) — proudly commented under his daughter’s pregnancy announcement earlier this year: “We can’t wait. Congratulations and we love you.”
Gerrard’s Life in Bahrain
Since his managerial spell in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ettifaq came to an early and disappointing end, Gerrard and his family have been based in Bahrain.
The relocation, he explained, made it difficult to jump straight back into a demanding club role.
That geographic distance played a part in his decision to turn down Rangers, even though the discussions reportedly ended on good terms.
Sources close to both parties say the door remains open for a future reunion — if the timing is right.
A New Chapter, But Not the End
Despite missing out on a romantic return to Glasgow, Gerrard’s relationship with Rangers remains strong.
His legacy as the man who broke Celtic’s dominance is secure, and fans continue to hold him in high regard.
For now, Gerrard appears content focusing on family, especially his new granddaughter, whom he recently introduced to his 11.6 million Instagram followers with a sweet, caption-free photo.
Life may have taken him away from Ibrox for now, but as Gerrard himself hinted — when it comes to Rangers, “never say never.”