Steven Gerrard signs four-year contract with Rangers

The ink has dried, hands have been shaken, and the official pictures have been taken: Steven Gerrard is officially the new Rangers Manager.

The Liverpool legend has taken the plunge and entered into the chaotic world of management after he penned a four-year contract with the Gers, meaning next season he will look horns with his former Reds boss Brendan Rodgers, now of Celtic.

Gerrard, who previously turned down MK Dons, was propelled into the mix for the position last week after bookmakers suddenly installed the former England midfielder as the odds-on favourite, ahead of Cardiff City gaffer Neil Warnock.

Then, earlier this week Rangers’ interim boss Graeme Murty left the club three games before the end of the season, which only added fuel to the rumours that Gerrard was on the cusp of landing his first senior post in management.

Despite warnings and criticism from some quarters, Gerrard has decided to bite the bullet and go for it, opting to bring in former Liverpool teammate Gary McAllister as his assistant at Ibrox.

While Gerrard has no senior managerial experience to speak of, the 37-year-old has been working as a Liverpool academy coach for over a year, and guided the U18s to 3rd in the 2017/18 North table behind the two Manchester teams.

Come next season Gerrard will be tasked with challenging for a domestic cup, and somehow trying to halt the Celtic juggernaut, which last weekend won the Scottish Premier League for the seventh successive season.

At the time of writing Gerrard’s Rangers are priced at 12/1 to win their first SPL title since 2010/11, while Celtic are a miniscule 1/12 to go on and claim their eighth consecutive top-flight trophy.

In a club statement Gerrard said:

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

“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.”

BREAKING: Steven Gerrard has agreed to become the next Rangers manager!

Stevie G has signed a FOUR-YEAR deal, not a three-year contract which was originally touted.

Gary McAllister will be his assistant.#Rangers pic.twitter.com/i7DIodU38i

— The Sack Race (@thesackrace) May 4, 2018