Emotions ran high in Glasgow as the storied Steven Gerrard vacated his post as the Rangers manager on Thursday.
Having served in Scotland for 3 years, the move marks his return to the English top-flight, in the form of the lead tactician for Aston Villa.
Rangers FC lifted the league title for the first time in 10 years under the Englishman’s reign. The trophy though, however meaningful, was the only silverware that the club bagged under Gerrard’s reign.
The Gers’ fans thus feel undone by the early exit of the 41-year-old who leaves mid-season, a week after club legend Walter Smith’s demise, who he claimed to be his mentor.
Life-sized cutouts of Gerrard had become a common sight in the west of Scotland after his unbeaten season with the Rangers. Post his departure, however, the former midfielder went from hero to villain and his cut-outs had to face the brunt of the Gers’ wrath.
Videos of Gerrard’s cardboard statuettes getting thrashed, stomped upon and trashed were high on Twitter’s trending list. Fans recorded themselves punching the posters, making them face the wall in shame and even abandoning them at the stadium in Ibrox.
The sheer volume of such clips, in all hilariousness, begged the question of just how many Scottish households owned them.
Stevie G’s exit was a bittersweet ending to a would-be fairytale. While they didn’t achieve all they would’ve hoped to, the Rangers did come a long way from their ruins since he stepped in.
A cumbersome challenge awaits him in England as he takes over Villa who are clinging to the Premier League at the 16th position, just 2 points shy of the relegation zone.