“I have just spoken to the Rangers manager candidate and if Ibrox come calling he will be gone.”

Rio Ferdinand nominated his former England teammate Steven Gerrard to return for a second spell with the team Rangers boss.

The former Liverpool captain has quickly emerged as the bookies’ favorite to succeed Russell Martin at Ibrox, who was sacked on Sunday evening.

Gerrard remains a hero to many Rangers fans after leading them to the Scottish Premiership title in 2020-21, the only time they have won the league since the financial collapse in 2012.

Gerrard and Rangers ‘perfect match’

In an interview with Rio Ferdinand Presents, which was released on Tuesday but was conducted before Martin’s sacking, the 45-year-old former Aston Villa boss revealed he had a “bit of unfinished business” in management and wanted “to be in a team that is going to compete to win because I think that suits me best”.

Gerrard said he and Rangers were the “perfect match” during his just over three years in charge between 2018 and 2021, and Ferdinand feels the former England captain would be open to an Ibrox return almost four years after he left for Villa.

“I have to say when I interviewed him, he left me in no uncertain terms that he wants to become a manager and he has complete confidence in doing so,” the former Manchester United defender told talkSPORT.

“He’s dying to get back now. He never said that to me, but personally I just think the energy I felt in that room, that if Rangers came he would go or at least have that conversation.”

“What I felt was, if I was a football club owner and Steven Gerrard was sitting across from me and I felt that energy in the room when I was interviewing him, he gets the job.

“Forget what happened before, but also his previous time at Rangers, he performed brilliantly there. “I’ve never seen so many Rangers fans flooding comments on social media or my podcast.

“They’re all looking forward to him stepping up and at least having the conversation, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Steven Gerrard is back in training again very soon, and Rangers could be one of my big bets.”

Other names touted as possible successors to Martin over the past two days include Hearts boss Derek McInnes, Former Rangers player Kevin Muscat And former Everton president Sean Dyche.

US-based chairman Andrew Cavenagh, who on Monday pleaded guilty to appointing Martin, is said to be traveling to the UK this week to hold talks with other senior figures, including deputy chairman Parag Marathe, about the next chair.