LEE WALLACE is confident Steven Gerrard is the man to bring success back to Rangers as he tipped the Liverpool legend to one day return to Anfield as boss.
The former Rangers captain made just three appearances during Gerrard’s first campaign at Ibrox before leaving the Light Blues at the end of the season.
Gerrard led his side into the group stages of the Europa League 12 months ago but was left empty-handed domestically as Celtic won a third consecutive Treble.
Wallace could see signs of progress and improvement for the Gers, though, and reckons Gerrard will end the long wait for silverware sooner rather than later.
READ MORE: Rangers to face St Joseph's in Europa League first qualifying round
He said: “I saw everything last year, I saw every training session, every game and I have seen the manager up close. I know he is on his way to going back and you have seen the scenario with Frank Lampard with Chelsea.
“I think, in time. The manager has got unfinished business at Rangers and he is here for a long time, but we know top end what his dream role could be, and he is on his way to do that.
“I have seen an incredible manager in his first season, exceptional with the players and I think he has got a great focus, a great drive and the culture that he created last year was great.
“And because of that, I think when you go onto the pitch that makes you better. I noticed a lot of improvement last year and they are moving forward strongly.
“There was progress there last year, the football people know it, I was in the building and I know it on different aspects. This season is gearing up to be a really good one and I absolutely will be watching back and wishing them all the best.”
The end of Gerrard’s first season as boss marked the culmination of Wallace’s Ibrox career as the 31-year-old was reunited with Mark Warburton at Queens Park Rangers this summer.
The left-back found himself well down the pecking order following a tumultuous period that saw him sidelined for long spells through injury and his disciplinary wrangle with the Light Blues.
READ MORE: Lee Wallace leaves Rangers with his head held high but without a top flight medal at Ibrox
Wallace remained part of the Gers squad last term and was grateful to Gerrard for keeping him involved after his high-profile dispute with Ibrox chiefs.
He told talkSPORT: “In top brass, you mean the hierarchy at the club? No, that wasn’t the case [that they wished me well]. I am not too disappointed in that and it was kind of expected.
“Like I say, there are certain parts of the club that are what they are, but that is a small fraction at the top. Everything else was incredible for me.
“Even last season, although I didn’t play under Steven Gerrard, he was fantastic for me and what a learning experience that was for me working up close with Steven Gerrard. Michael Beale is the first team coach and he was incredible in the detail, he was fantastic for me.
“Steven Gerrard and Michael Beale made a bigger impression on me in terms of my training levels and being an inspiring coach. The level of detail I could take from those guys was incredible.
“So I thank them and I made sure I went in and thanked them. It was a situation that wasn’t ideal for them inheriting a case such as myself but I trained and I was given a fair crack at it.
“I was thankful to them so, as a man, I had to go and shake their hands and thank them and wish them all the best moving forward.”
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel