Russell Martin was appointed as Rangers manager back in May and it’s safe to say it’s been a complete disaster, with many of the Ibrox faithful calling for him to be sacked. But with the 39-year-old under serious pressure, did the Light Blues miss a trick by not appointing footballing legend Frank Lampard when they had the chance?

Two years ago, Michael Beale was sacked as Rangers manager after only 11 months in charge and it left many wondering who would be the ideal replacement.

The Light Blues were linked with a host of names, but it came down to two men in the final stages of the interviewing process and that was Philippe Clement and one of the greatest midfielders to ever lace up a pair of boots in Frank Lampard.

At the time, Rangers legend Graeme Souness was vocal in his support for Lampard to get the job and he believed he had what it takes to deal with the demands and expectations of being at such a big club. He told TalkSport:

“There were two outstanding candidates – Frank and Philippe. The final say wasn’t with me.

“For me, Frank had the edge because of this; Frank, I think, has still got a great deal to offer.

“Taking the Chelsea job when he did was always going to be very, very difficult. The Everton job is a basket case.

“The thing that encouraged me about Frank is he wanted to do it. He doesn’t need the money. He wants to be a successful manager. And he fancied the Rangers job which is a hard place to work, the west of Scotland.”

The Englishman started his managerial career seven years ago and it’s been quite a rollercoaster to say the least.

Derby County was his first big challenge in the dugout and he done a fine job reaching the play-off final and narrowly missed out on promotion losing 2-1 to an impressive Aston Villa outfit.

The work Lampard done at the Rams impressed a certain Mr. Roman Abramovich, and he was then appointed as Chelsea boss in July 2019.

Lampard was walking into a club that was hit with a transfer embargo, sold their best player in Eden Hazard, and had no other option but to utilise the Blues’ youth academy.

It was always going to be a tough ask for the Romford-born manager but he defied the odds and finished in the top four and reached an FA Cup final.

Lampard was instrumental in the development of Mason Mount, Reece James, Tammy Abraham, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Fikayo Tomori – players that have all been capped for England.

The following season, Lampard was sacked by Chelsea and the London club went onto win the Champions League.

Lampard should get some credit for that success as seven players who started the final were either signed or developed by the Chelsea legend.

After a couple difficult spells with Everton, returning to Chelsea again in 2023, and missing out on the Gers job – many were wondering if Lampard was cut out for football management and where he would go from here?

On November 2024, Lampard finally made his return to the dugout and it was with struggling Coventry City.

It was a big risk for Lampard to take as the club were sitting 17th in the table and effectively in a relegation dog fight.

However, Lampard worked miracles and the Sky Blues finished 5th in the league reaching the play-offs – it was an unbelievable turnaround.

Lampard’s men have had an incredible start to this season as they’re currently second in the Championship unbeaten with his stock sky high.

Even in 2023, Lampard still would have been a perfect for the Ibrox club as they’ve been crying out for a manager with a strong and fierce winning mentality.

Steven Gerrard, the same as Lampard are two men that command respect when they walk into any room for what they’ve achieved in the game.

The pressures and demands of managing Glasgow Rangers wouldn’t have phased Lampard one bit in the slightest.

Lampard has played at the highest level of the game winning three English Premier Leagues and the Champions League.

If anyone could have brought the standards back to the fallen Govan club – it would have been him.

Rangers are in a mess right now under Martin and with Lampard thriving down south with ambitions to get his men promotion to the Premiership for the first time since 2001.

It does make you wonder how differently things could have been for him and Rangers if he was appointed as manager in 2023 instead of Clement.