Steven Gerrard has officially ruled out a return to Rangers, ending speculation that he might reprise his role as manager at Ibrox. Despite initial discussions with the club, Gerrard has decided not to pursue the position, citing personal reasons and family commitments.
Gerrard, who led Rangers to an unbeaten Scottish Premiership title in the 2020/21 season, had been considered a strong candidate to replace Philippe Clement, who was dismissed in February 2025. However, the former Liverpool captain has chosen to remain in the Middle East, where his family has settled, making a return to Scotland unfeasible at this time .
In the interim, Gerrard has taken on a new role as a pundit for TNT Sports, joining the panel for the upcoming UEFA Champions League final between Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain .
With Gerrard out of contention, Rangers are focusing on other candidates for the managerial position. Davide Ancelotti, son of Carlo Ancelotti and former assistant at Real Madrid, is among the frontrunners. Former Southampton manager Russell Martin and ex-Ajax boss Francesco Farioli are also being considered .
The club aims to finalize the appointment of a new manager ahead of the team’s return for pre-season training on June 23, as they prepare for Champions League qualifiers and the new Premiership season .
Additionally, Rangers are nearing the completion of a long-anticipated ownership takeover led by US-based investor Andrew Cavenagh, which could influence the final decision on the managerial appointment .
As the search continues, Rangers supporters await the announcement of a new manager to lead the club into the next chapter of its storied history.
