BRENDAN RODGERS’ hopes of pitting his managerial wits against Steven Gerrard for a second time have been scuppered.
The former Liverpool boss was ready to welcome his one-time Anfield captain back to Glasgow as the Ibrox club’s permanent successor to Philippe Clement.
However, Gerrard, who had been tipped as the frontrunner for the job, has REJECTED Rangers for family reasons and there is no chance of an action replay.
DERBY DAZE…Brendan Rodgers looks on as Steven Gerrard complains about something to fourth official John Beaton during the September 2018 clash which Celtic won 1-0 at Parkhead.
Rodgers had faced the ex-England international midfielder twice in derbies, winning 1-0 at Parkhead in September 2018 with Olivier Ntcham claiming the points-clincher.
But the tables were reversed at Ibrox in December when Scott Brown deflected Ryan Jack’s shot past Craig Gordon for the only goal of the game.
The Irishman then left Parkhead in February the following year for his stint at Leicester City before his June 2023 return.
Gerrard followed him across the border in 2021 when he joined Aston Villa, but he was sacked within a year.
He took over Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ettifaq in July 2023 and left the club “by mutual consent” in January this year.
THAT’S OUR BHOY…Callum McGregor, Odsonne Edouard and Kieran Tierney congratulate matchwinner Olivier Ntcham during the first Rodgers v Gerrard encounter.
It is believed his wife Alex enjoys the lifestyle in Bahrain and Gerrard, who is about to become a grandfather for the first time, is about to take a year out to be with his family.
The Govan guessing game is now in full swing with former Real Madrid assistant Davide Ancelotti, ex-Southampton boss Russell Martin and Franco Farioli, who left Ajax after blowing the Eredivisie title last month, in the frame.
American tycoon Andrew Cavenagh, who is the driving force behind the takeover, is also expected to be in Europe this weekend to take the leading role in the final stages of the hiring process.
