Steven Gerrard is under pressure at Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq (Photo: Getty)
England and Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has been backed to make a sensational return to Rangers by his former Celtic rival Neil Lennon.
Gerrard began his managerial career at the Scottish giants in 2018 and was widely praised for his work, winning 125 of his 193 games in charge – a win percentage of 64.8.
In 2020/21, he guided the club to their first league title in a decade without losing a single match, finishing 25 points ahead of Celtic.
But just a few months later, he left the Ibrox to join Aston Villa, a move that disappointed Rangers fans, especially since it occurred partway through a campaign.
Since, then both Gerrard and the Gers have been in a downward spiral, with the manager sacked by Villa after less than a year in charge and replaced by Unai Emery.
The 44-year-old is now at Al-Ettifaq but his future in the Saudi Pro League looks bleak, with the club currently just above the relegation zone and fans jeering the former Three Lions skipper.
Despite reaching the Europa League final in 2022, Rangers have lost the last three Scottish Premiership titles to their fierce Glasgow rivals and this season they trail both Celtic and Aberdeen by nine points.
Gerrard ended Rangers’s 10-year wait for a Scottish Premiership title in 2021 (Photo: Getty)
With current boss Philippe Clement facing the sack, some have tipped Rangers to rescue Gerrard from his Saudi nightmare and bring him back to the Ibrox.
Though some supporters may not have forgiven their former manager, Lennon, who spent two years as Gerrard’s rival in the Celtic dugout, believes a return to Rangers would be a good move for the Champions League winning captain.
‘Steven Gerrard back to Rangers? Never say never,’ the two-time Celtic boss told OLBG.
Neil Lennon managed Celtic from 2010-2014 and from 2019-2021 (Photo: Getty)
‘Gerrard is still well thought of by Rangers fans and although he’s trying to make his way in Saudi at the moment I think you can never rule it out.
‘I ended up going back to Celtic and it was fantastic for me, he might want to do the same at Rangers.’
As for Lennon himself, he was sacked by the Celts just prior to Rangers winning the 2021 title and has been out of management altogether since getting axed by Romanian side Rapid Bucuresti in August.
‘I’d like to get back in so I’m just waiting on the next opportunity. It may be my last though, I’ve done it for about 15 years now,’ the former Northern Ireland international added.
‘I’m actively looking at the minute. There have been opportunities already since I came back from Bucharest, but nothing that’s really caught my eye.
‘I had a great time in Scotland with Celtic and Hibs so ideally I would like to stay in the UK, but you know if that’s not the case then I’d be happy to go abroad again.’
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