Rangers: A hat-trick of highs as Steven Gerrard celebrates three years at Ibrox

His appointment has proven to be transformative for the club on and off the park and Rangers today are a far different proposition from the one which he inherited in 2018.

There have undoubtedly been some disappointments along the way, but Gerrard has achieved what he set out to do and delivered Rangers’ 55th Premiership title in this historic campaign.

Here, Herald and Times Sport looks back at a hat-trick of highs from Gerrard’s three years at Ibrox as he prepares for a fourth term and a defence of their top flight crown next season.

UFA ARE OVERCOME IN THE EUROPA LEAGUE

This dramatic and memorable evening in Russia will go down as one of the defining moments in Gerrard’s tenure and it is one from which Rangers have built for a brighter future.

Ovie Ejaria’s early strike was crucial in the tie but it was far from straightforward for Rangers as Alfredo Morelos and Jon Flanagan were sent off and they had to survive in the closing stages. The celebrations at the final whistle said it all about how significant an achievement it was.

After the humiliation of the defeat to Progres the previous season, Gerrard had restored Rangers’ reputation on the continent and group stage football was secured at the first time of asking.

It was an early sign of what Gerrard was capable of and the funds earned would allow him to further strengthen his squad as Rangers strode along the road to recovery.

CELTIC’S OLD FIRM DOMINANCE IS ENDED

The squad that Gerrard took over at Ibrox had been left battered and bruised in the matches with Celtic in the previous couple of seasons and Rangers seemed as far away as ever from their Old Firm rivals.

There is no fear factor today, though, as Gerrard has won at Ibrox and Parkhead and turned the tables on Celtic in the Premiership and Rangers are tactically, physically and mentality superior these days.

The first derby win was perhaps the most important as Ryan Jack scored the only goal of the game. It didn’t matter in terms of the title, but a hurdle had been overcome.

Rangers’ progress individually and collectively can be tracked by these fixtures and they sum up the impact that Gerrard has had.

That afternoon just months after his appointment was a hugely significant one as Gerrard’s side settled a score and proved a point to themselves and their detractors.

TITLE 55 IS WON AND CELEBRATED

This weekend will live with Gerrard and supporters for quite some time. Even for someone with a CV as glittering as the him, these moments must have been something special.

It marked the culmination of his efforts over the previous three seasons and the end of ‘The Journey’ as Rangers were crowned as champions once again.

The party had started long before the victory over St Mirren at Ibrox and staff and players would celebrate in the home dressing room as supporters hailed them from Edmiston Drive.

It is perhaps only when they have left Rangers that it will sink in just what this league flag means and why it was so significant and the achievement will go down in Ibrox folklore.

Rangers had dominated the Premiership title race from the start and their status as champions were thoroughly deserved given how impressive they had been over the course of the campaign.