Steven Gerrard's Rangers journey in quotes & what they could mean for return from ‘let's go' to ‘do I look happy?'
His Ibrox spell both began and ended with an iconic quote
LET'S GO AGAIN Steven Gerrard's Rangers journey in quotes & what they could mean for return from 'let's go' to 'do I look happy?'
STEVEN GERRARD is in line for an incredible return as Rangers manager.
SunSport were first to reveal the Liverpool and England legend was one of the two front-runners to be the next Light Blues boss.
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Steven Gerrard could be in line for a sensational return to Rangers
Credit: Reuters
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He led the club to the Scottish Premiership title in 2021
Credit: The Sun
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He came away with many memorable quotes at Ibrox
Credit: Reuters
Gerrard and former Rangers defender Russell Martin are in a two-horse race to succeed Barry Ferguson in the hotseat ahead of a period of huge change at the club.
There appear to be plenty of signs pointing towards Gerrard, 44, returning to the Gers for a second spell in charge - especially now that Martin appears to be closing in on the Leicester job.
Some bookies suspended betting while he is the strong odds-on favourite among those still taking bets.
Gerrard has also withdrawn from an exhibition match next week, with the game's host, his former Liverpool teammate Djibril Cisse, revealing he was unable to appear due to "professional commitments."
It would be an incredible return to Ibrox for Gerrard, who ended a three-year spell with Rangers in November 2021 to take over at Aston Villa.
Many fans weren't happy with the manner of his departure, which came just six months after he lifted the Scottish Premiership trophy.
In truth, there had probably been a number of signs within Gerrard's words that he wasn't entirely happy - specifically with how he'd been backed in the transfer market.
From 'let's go' to 'do I look happy?', SunSport analyses Gerrard's words from first time around and how those words feed into a potential stunning second spell as Rangers manager.
Let's Go!
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Gerrard was appointed Rangers manager in May 2018
Credit: AFP or licensors
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He arrived with the now famous tagline 'let's go!'
Credit: Getty Images - Getty
Gerrard had barely been in the door when he uttered what would become an iconic two-word rallying cry.
He was appointed Rangers manager in May 2018 and before long was in the Blue Room at Ibrox, suited and booted with club tie.
Robert Grieve & Bill Leckie have the very latest on the Rangers manager situation as Steven Gerrard & Russell Martin emerge as front-runners
Sat alongside chairman Dave King, Gerrard was asked about the risk factors involved in him being appointed.
While he had an incredible playing CV behind him, Gerrard had never been a manager before and had been plucked from the Liverpool academy.
He responded: "I have confidence in myself, in my ability. I have weighed the gamble up and the risk and I understand other people thinking it is because it is my first job in management, but I have confidence in myself that I can deliver for these supporters.
"That's the only thing that matters to me: do I think I can do a good job as the manager of Glasgow Rangers? In my mind, it's yes."
Asked to deliver a message to the Rangers fans, Gerrard simply responded: "Let's go."
Those two words would be synonymous with his three years in charge all the way through to securing the league title.
Gerrard will also know all about the pressure that comes with being Rangers manager.
He dealt with it in leading the Light Blues to the championship, a league title that had a huge amount of pressure behind it.
Not only because it was Rangers' first in a decade but because the pressure was very much on to deny Celtic a record 10th title in a row.
On his first day, Gerrard made it clear he knew what he was coming into and insisted the pressure would be something he would THRIVE on.
He said: "Pressure is not a bad thing for me. I played under pressure, I have lived under pressure since I left school.
"In football, if you are working under pressure you are in a good place. Since I stopped playing football, I have missed that pressure of fighting for three points at the weekend.
"Being Rangers manager, I know there will be a lot of scrutiny and pressure but that's what I love about being involved in football.
"Bring it on. I don't mind being under intense pressure. I knew that before I decided to be Rangers manager and I'm up for the challenge."
The man manager - 'I love the player'
Gerrard was never one to back down when defending his players.
This was certainly the case with Alfredo Morelos in particular.
The Colombian striker was never far from controversy during his time at Rangers, but time and time again Gerrard had his back.
In one of his earliest games as Gers boss, Morelos was sent-off during a crucial Europa League qualifier against FC Ufa.
It was a tie that Rangers won to progress to the group stage, despite having TWO men red-carded.
But instead of laying into the hot-headed striker who was dismissed for dissent, Gerrard sought to calm things down.
He said: "Alfredo is an incredible footballer, but he's still a young footballer and I think it helps him that I've been a young footballer, someone who has made mistakes myself.
"I've said before I love the player and I love the person, but at the same time all my players need to learn quick that when you come away in Europe sometimes the decisions are not the same as domestically and we have to find some discipline because as a group ours hasn't been good enough so far."
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Gerrard regularly leapt to Alfredo Morelos' defence
Credit: Reuters
One notable occasion where Gerrard failed to defend Morelos was when the striker was shown a red card in the first-half of a 2-1 defeat to Celtic in March 2019.
He did, however, back winger Ryan Kent after the same game when the winger avoided being sent-off despite PUNCHING Scott Brown.
Gerrard backed his own man and turned the tables on Brown, saying: "The guy who antagonised it all from the beginning deserves to be punished as well."
Gerrard regularly leapt to the defence of his players in the fact of criticism.
It's something he might have to tap into again should he return as he takes over a squad on the back of a dire campaign and devoid of plenty of confidence.
Backing of the board
Perhaps the most telling quotes from Gerrard, especially during his latter days in charge, were his comments around backing from the board in the transfer market.
After sealing the league title in 2021, Gerrard quickly made it clear he felt the club needed to build on that success to improve even further.
In fact, on the SAME day he got his hands on the league trophy, Gerrard was calling for the means to improve his squad.
But he also demanded he was able to KEEP his prize assets in place - and at the time, he fully believed he'd be back in the transfer market.
Speaking to Sky Sports moments after the Gers got the trophy, Gerrard said: "You can see the last few games that we're short in certain areas.
Steven Gerrard's Rangers career
Appointed manager on four-year contract in May 2018
Led Rangers back to group stage European football by qualifying for Europa League in first season in charge
Guided Gers to first league win over Celtic since 2012 with 1-0 victory in December 2018
Led the club to the Scottish Premiership title in 2021
Rangers went entire 2020/21 league season undefeated with 102 points
Left role in November 2021 to join Aston Villa
'I've had some really interesting meetings with the board and they're with me, they'll back me and we'll go again.
"Can I keep these players together? Well, let me flip the question for you. If anyone wants to take them away from me, they best bring an army with them."
Rangers DID keep a hold of their top players - but Gerrard was NOT backed substantially in the transfer market.
The Gers signed four players in what turned out to be Gerrard's final transfer window, with three of those coming on on free transfers.
They paid a small fee to land Juninho Bacuna from Huddersfield.
By October - just weeks before his exit - Gerrard's tone regarding boardroom backing had shifted.
After losing 1-0 to Sparta Prague in the Europa League, the former England captain's frustration was clear to see.
He hit out at the fact that the club "hadn't spent a penny" in either transfer window in 2021 in perhaps the first real sign that he wasn't happy with what was going on behind the scenes.
Gerrard blasted: "If we want to keep growing and going to the extra level, we need to spend big money in transfer windows.
"It's as simple as that - to compete with the teams that we're playing against, we have to spend big money.
"In the last two windows, we haven't spent a penny. So there has to be some realism there as well."
What is certainly abundantly clear is that Gerrard would not be entertaining a return to Rangers without assurances.
And many of those assurances are sure to centre around backing in the transfer market, backing that he doesn't believe he had first time around - certainly towards the end of his reign.
Happy or not?
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Gerrard's infamous 'do I look happy?' response happened on live TV
Credit: YOUTUBE/TNT SPORTS
Gerrard's spell as Rangers began with a memorable short quote.
It also ended with one.
It's a quote that was ringing in all Gers' fans ears for some time after his departure.
The words are also likely to still be in the minds of many of them should he seal his incredible return as manager.
Gerrard's success at Ibrox had led to several links with prominent English clubs.
In mid-October 2021, Gerrard was being heavily linked with the Newcastle job.
It was speculation that didn't go away and he was directly asked about the talk of a move after a Europa League victory over Brondby at Ibrox.
BT Sports reporter Emma Dodds asked Gerrard if he had anything to say to those linking him with a move away.
He famously replied: "Do I look happy? Do I look settled?
"Don't ask me silly questions then!"
At the time, Rangers fans were delighted about what they saw as his commitment to the cause at Ibrox.
Those words were uttered on October 21, 2021.
On November 11, 2021, Gerrard was appointed Aston Villa manager.
It's unlikely Gerrard will be able to return as manager without addressing those comments.
The quotes have become infamous due to Gerrard walking away barely three weeks after reaffirming he was staying.
Rangers were beaten 3-1 by Hibs in the League Cup semi-finals two weeks after Gerrard's departure.
And in his post-match interview, Hibees defender Ryan Porteous couldn't resist a cheeky pop at Gerrard's expense.
Speaking to Emma Dodds, he said: "Do we look happy? Don't ask silly questions."
Hibs then even started selling T-shirts with the phrase printed on the front.
We f****** love Rangers!
What will curry more favour than the previous is Gerrard's most recent quote about the club.
Approached by a Celtic fan on a boozy night out to record a message, Gerrard said down the barrel of the phone's camera: "Listen Debbie, this f****** mushroom is a Celtic fan.
"We f****** love Rangers. F*** Debbie.
"I love Rangers!"
Another clip shows Gerrard shouting 'up the Teddy Bears' while a woman sings 'You'll Never Walk Alone.'
Gers fans will be hoping for more of that love and passion should he return as boss.
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Gerrard declared 'I love Rangers' in a boozy video
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