5 candidates to replace Gerrard at Rangers including ex-Barcelona boss Koeman

The appointment of Steven Gerrard as the new manager of Aston Villa has left a high-profile managerial vacancy at Scottish champions Rangers.

The former England international decided to exit Ibrox at replacing Dean Smith, following his sacking earlier this month at Villa Park.

Ronald Koeman is perhaps the most high-profile of those who have been linked to the vacancy following his sacking as Barcelona boss.

Yet the former Netherlands national team coach is not the most likely of the candidates to fill the hotseat at Ibrox, but another Dutchman - Giovanni van Bronckhorst - is among the leading candidates.

There are a number of interesting candidates who could fill the void left by Gerrard's exit and help to retain the Scottish title with the blue half of Glasgow.

Here are five candidates who could move to Ibrox.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst

Since leaving Feyenoord - where he won five trophies in four years as boss - former Barcelona, Arsenal and Rangers defender van Bronckhorst has had a period of ups and downs.

He had been working behind the scenes at Manchester City learning how the City Football Group operate their business, leading to speculation that the club had eyed him up as a potential Pep Guardiola successor.

Yet a short-term move to Chinese Super League club Guanghzou R&F was unsuccessful, with the club finishing 11 th - and then returning home to spend time with his family.

Van Bronckhorst has previously spoken of his ambition of managing Arsenal but is now the leading contender for the Gers post.

Russell Martin

Swansea City boss Russell Martin with the Mirror revealing Rangers interest in the manager earlier this week.

The Glasgow giants have already made enquiries about former Scotland defender Martin who also had a loan spell at Rangers where the connection may have been made.

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Having spent a little under two years as MK Dons boss, Martin was appointed at the Swans this summer and has won eight of his 20 matches at the helm.

The Swans currently sit in 12th spot in the Championship and Martin is highly rated within coaching circles.

Ronald Koeman

Koeman has been linked with a move to Ibrox, although this does seem somewhat fanciful.

It is a little over two weeks since the Dutchman was dismissed from his post at Barcelona, where he won the Copa del Rey title last season but has overseen a period of decline on the pitch - coupled with struggles off it.

Koeman had varying fortunes in his previous jobs in British football with Southampton and Everton, with a long coaching career encompassing spells at Benfica, Valencia, Ajax and Feyenoord.

His wage demands and current position make him an unlikely candidate for Ibrox, despite the rumours.

Gennaro Gattuso

As with van Bronckhorst, Gattuso is a former Rangers player from the continent who has enjoyed high-profile coaching jobs but is currently out of work.

The Italian made 51 appearances for the Gers in the late 1990s and has managed over 80 games at each of his last three clubs: Pisa, Milan and Napoli.

None of those jobs was a disaster and he enjoyed relative longevity in the roles - and was linked with the Tottenham job this summer, but the move broke down.

A potentially popular and ready-made replacement for Gerrard but could be a tricky deal to complete.

Frank Lampard

Frank Lampard has pulled out of the running for the Norwich City job and is still on the market.

The Chelsea legend seemed set for a return to management at Carrow Road as Daniel Farke's replacement.

But he ruled himself out at the eleventh hour and could yet fancy a move to Ibrox.

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Lampard was a long-term club rival and international teammate of Gerrard, with the two sharing great similarities in their career arcs and playing style.

Another potentially big-name appointment at the Gers while his jobs at Derby and Chelsea have proved somewhat inconclusive on Lampard's coaching potential.

A move to Glasgow could help him establish a coaching legacy and a route back into management.