Steven Gerrard unveiled as new Rangers manager

Steven Gerrard shook hands on a four-year contract to become the new manager of Rangers on Friday, and will officially take over in the summer.

The former Liverpool and England captain has been working in the former's youth setup since early 2017, and will now be handed the reins of a Scottish giant that has fallen on hard times in recent years.

"I am honoured to become the next manager of Rangers. I have enormous respect for this football club, and its history and tradition," Gerrard said.

"I can't wait to start this new journey at Rangers as we look to build on the many successes that this club has achieved."

Graeme Murty was in interim charge of Rangers following the sacking of Pedro Caixinha in October, but was himself shown the exit door in the wake of last Sunday's humiliating 5-0 defeat at Old Firm rival Celtic, managed by Gerrard's former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers. That loss handed Rangers' Glaswegian foe its seventh consecutive Scottish Premiership title.

For four seasons, Rangers couldn't even challenge Celtic's dominance atop the country's game after it was forced to climb back into the Premiership from the Third Division following financial issues that threatened to end the club.

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Now it is hoped that Gerrard's vast playing experience - he made 710 appearances and won nine trophies for Liverpool, was capped 114 times by England, and enjoyed a swansong with the LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer - and fresh ideas can help re-establish Rangers as a huge outfit in both Scottish and European football.

"From the moment we met with Steven to discuss this opportunity, we felt that his ambitions and desire to succeed equalled our own for the club," director of football Mark Allen shared.

"Make no mistake, Steven fully understands the demands that come with managing a Club of this stature and we look forward to exciting times ahead."

Rangers will take on Kilmarnock at Ibrox on Saturday, with 13 points currently separating them from table-topping Celtic.

"It's brilliant for Scottish football, it really is, raising the profile even more," ex-Celtic striker Chris Sutton told BBC Sport's Phil McNulty of Gerrard's appointment. "Scottish football has been on the up anyway, with Hibs coming back up while Hearts, Aberdeen and Rangers are all in there, and Steven coming in would really raise the profile.

"There is the Brendan Rodgers connection from Liverpool - Rodgers versus Gerrard. It's fantastic for the game in Scotland."