Steven Gerrard has left Rangers after accepting the top job at Aston Villa - forcing the Ibrox club into a desperate hunt for a successor.
The Liverpool legend has brought a momentous three-and-a-half year stint in Govan to an end to take a shot at the Premier League with the struggling Villans.
The Ibrox hierarchy now face a scramble to have a new man in place before the League Cup semi final showdown with Hibs at Hampden.
Gerrard’s exit leaves a huge void and the 41-year-old is expected to take his backroom team including assistant Gary McAllister, Michael Beale, Jordan Milsom and Tom Culshaw with him to Villa Park.
He has penned a three-and-a-half year deal.
And he has spoken about his decision to swap Glasgow for Birmingham after he was unveiled.
He said: “Aston Villa is a club with a rich history and tradition in English football and I am immensely proud to become its new Head Coach.
“In my conversations with Nassef, Wes and the rest of the Board, it was apparent how ambitious their plans are for the club and I am looking forward to helping them achieve their aims.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everybody associated with Glasgow Rangers for giving me the opportunity to manage such an iconic football club. Helping them secure a record-breaking 55th league title will always hold a special place in my heart. I would like to wish the players, staff and supporters the very best for the future.”
Since leaving his academy job at Liverpool to replace Graeme Murty at Ibrox in the summer of 2018 Gerrard has delivered a first title in a decade, stopping Celtic winning a historic 10-in-a-row, and on the back on an incredible unbeaten league run that saw them finish a record 25 points ahead of the Hoops.
Gerrard also succeeded in qualifying for four successive Europa League group stage spots, twice in succession he led Gers into the last 16 of the competition and was on course for another shot at the latter stages this season.
But his failure to reach the Champions League group stages this season was a blow. And Gerrard vented his frustration over a failure to strengthen his squad in the summer when he said: “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.”
The England legend won over the Ibrox faithful with his no-nonsense brand of management from the moment he arrived in May 2018 when he declared: “Let’s Go”.
But Gerrard is now gone leaving Rangers hunting a new manager.
