The Rangers manager has transformed the club in his 19 months in charge so far – making it not only a domestic force once again, but also a real danger in European competition – with qualification for the Last 32 of the Europa League secured last night.
He couldn’t hide his delight as he signed his extended contract in the historic Manager’s Office in the Bill Struth Main Stand – and afterwards, he spoke exclusively to RangersTV.
“I’m extremely happy and very proud,” began the 39 year-old. “It takes me back to the day when I came in on May 4.
The manager didn’t have to think too hard about his decision to commit his future to Gers for an even longer period than he did initially – insisting it was the right thing to do not just for himself, but also his staff and his players, many of whom are on long-term deals themselves.
Gerrard continued: “I think that is how I have always tried to go about my work – whether that be as a player or now I have gone into coaching.
“I like to be loyal and I like to be committed to the job in hand and it was a pretty straightforward conversation when Ross [Wilson] and Stewart [Robertson] approached me.
“But if the magnitude of the games weren’t there, it would be done in five or 10 minutes, and I think that shows the commitment that myself and the staff have got here.
“We believe we can move the club forward in a lot of areas and it is where we want it to be right now – but there is still work to do and places where we want to take this club.”
Gerrard was also quizzed on what more he had learned about Rangers in his spell in charge so far, and why that made him believe Ibrox was the place for him to remain for the foreseeable future.
“I already knew a lot about the club in terms of knowledge and education before I came in,” he explained. “I was obviously a fan from afar before I was asked to come and lead the club from a manager’s point of view.
“That is the reason why I want to make the most of every single day and why I am so hungry and desperate to make it a success.”
As well as Gerrard, the entire coaching staff have also committed their futures to the club – something the manager insists was an absolute non-negotiable, alongside his own family situation.
Gerrard said: “When I was approached there were two key things that the club needed to be aware on and support me on.
“One was obviously my family – this had to work for Alex, the girls, Lio and the family as it is not possible to have them all here because of GCSE’s and age and schools and whatever.
“And the next important thing was the staff as for me to do the job I do and for my job to work I need the right set of skills around me.
“I believe we have a fantastic team of staff who are all as hungry and as ambitious as myself and when I asked them were they keen to extend, it was instant as well.
“So we are all on the same page and we are all desperate to be here and all desperate to do well here – that’s the key.”
Above his backroom staff, Gerrard has also been delighted with the backing he has enjoyed from boardroom level, adding: “From Dave King and all across the board, we as a group of staff have had fantastic support so far.
“We have had assurances that will continue, and obviously my day-to-day relationship with Ross and Stewart is key.
“I’ve obviously only known Ross for six or seven weeks, but that relationship has blossomed well, and I have been really impressed with his knowledge and his hunger and his intensity around his own job, which basically suits how I want to work as well.
The manager also paid tribute to the club’s supporters, saying:”It is the reason why I am here and it is the reason why I want to stay here. Sunday was a very important day for me from a personal point of view because my feelings only grew stronger towards the support.
“They have been fantastic with me from day one – they understand and they can see with their own eyes what we are trying to do, how we want the team to play and I think they have got belief and confidence in us that if we keep doing the right things and keep growing the team and strengthening it in the right areas, I think there is confidence there is will turn and it will turn for the better.”