Steven Gerrard OUT of the running for Rangers job as former Ajax boss Francesco Farioli is added to Ibrox shortlist

Steven Gerrard last night pulled out of the running to become the next manager of Rangers — just hours after being personally endorsed for the role by Dave King.

It leaves Davide Ancelotti and Russell Martin as the two main contenders, but sources have indicated to Mail Sport that an agreement to bring Ancelotti to Ibrox is not yet over the line.

Rangers are still assessing other candidates, one of whom is believed to be former Ajax manager Francesco Farioli.

Farioli is a 36-year-old Italian coach who left his post in Amsterdam last week following Ajax’s title collapse in the Dutch Eredivisie. He held talks with Rangers previously in 2022, before the club instead chose to appoint Michael Beale.

Former Feyenoord boss Brian Priske, the 48-year-old Dane who has also had spells in charge of Midtjylland, Royal Antwerp and Sparta Prague, is another who remains under consideration for the Ibrox vacancy.

After travelling to Europe this week, Andrew Cavenagh — a key figure in the consortium which is poised to take imminent ownership of the club — and senior figures within the Rangers hierarchy are set to hold further talks with candidates in the coming days.

Farioli will be considered by the Ibrox powerbrokers after his exit from Ajax after title collapse

Davide Ancelotti remains the red-hot bookies favourite to land the Rangers post

But Gerrard’s name is no longer under consideration, despite holding positive talks with the club only last week.

As Mail Sport exclusively revealed, Gerrard had initially been sounded out for a return to Ibrox as far back as February when Philippe Clement was sacked.

Gerrard was understood to be keen on a return initially and was highly regarded by senior figures within the club.

But, after asking for time to discuss a move back to Glasgow with his family, he has now chosen to remain at his current base in Bahrain.

Gerrard has been out of work since leaving Saudi Arabian Pro League side Al-Ettifaq back at the turn of the year and will be on punditry duties for TNT Sport’s coverage of the Champions League final tomorrow night.

With the European football showpiece set to be held in Munich between Inter Milan and PSG, it was understood that Cavenagh was open to meeting Gerrard whilst he was in Europe.

Gerrard managed to break Celtic’s stranglehold on Scottish football by claiming the title in 2021

But the former Liverpool and England icon, who led an undefeated Rangers side to the title in 2021, has now formally pulled out of the running.

That came just hours after former Ibrox chairman King personally endorsed him for a return to Glasgow.

King, who remains the club’s largest single shareholder, told the Rangers Review: ‘I think I know him well enough to fairly accurately state it would be unfinished business for him.

‘Steven left at a time he didn’t want to leave. That’s a fact. And the team was still top of the league at the time that he left.

‘He wanted to defend that title. I think he would have defended the title had he stayed.

Farioli was visibly upset after Ajax’s final Eredivisie match of the season against FC Twente

‘So from Steven’s personal point of view and where he is at the moment, I think he’d love nothing more than to come back to the club and take on the challenge of restoring the club.

‘And it’s not just about one title because the project that we hope we’re starting now is a project to make Rangers the dominant number one team in Scotland.

‘It’s not about winning another league title. It’s about really putting Rangers back at the top. This is a project. It’s not a one-off. And I think Steven would be perfect for that.

‘So I’d be very surprised if they haven’t spoken to Steven because he’s, as I say, he’s by far the least risky candidate to give new money to, by far the least risky candidate. He is the obvious choice.’