NafisaRangers supporters could hardly have asked for a better afternoon at Ibrox.
A 3-0 demolition of Celtic, a place in the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals and a fifth consecutive victory under Derek McInnes gave the Light Blues plenty to celebrate.
But while thousands of supporters were making their voices heard inside the stadium, one familiar face was quietly taking it all in.
Steven Gerrard was back at Ibrox.
The former Rangers boss made an under-the-radar return to his old stomping ground for Sunday’s Old Firm clash, although anyone relying on the television coverage would have been forgiven for missing him completely.
There was no appearance from Gerrard during Premier Sports’ broadcast and, perhaps deliberately, the Englishman kept a relatively low profile throughout the afternoon.
He was pictured wearing a baseball cap as he watched McInnes’ side tear Celtic apart, seemingly content to stay away from the spotlight while his former club produced one of their most convincing performances in years.
But once the final whistle went, Gerrard’s presence became considerably harder to hide.
And what happened afterwards has Rangers supporters talking.
Gerrard resurfaces after Rangers’ Old Firm demolition
The former Liverpool and Rangers midfielder eventually surfaced on social media with a series of photographs showing him enjoying the aftermath alongside some of his former players.
One of the first familiar faces Gerrard reunited with was Scott Arfield.
Arfield remains a hugely popular figure among Rangers supporters after his time at Ibrox, and the pair appeared to enjoy the celebrations following a result that would have delighted everyone of a Light Blue persuasion.
But Gerrard wasn’t finished there.
He also crossed paths with another former Rangers favourite in Andy Halliday, with the ex-Ibrox star sharing a photograph of himself alongside the former manager on his Instagram story.
On its own, the reunion would hardly be controversial.
Former players and managers regularly keep in touch, and Gerrard has retained strong connections with several members of the Rangers dressing room from his successful spell in charge.
But it was the soundtrack attached to his Halliday selfie that really caught the attention.
Gerrard accompanied the photograph with Roy Orbison’s Penny Arcade.
For Rangers supporters, that is not exactly an obscure musical choice.
The song has become closely associated with the Ibrox terraces and had already been enjoying a fresh moment in the spotlight during the week.
McInnes himself had been seen joining in with a rendition of the song during Rangers’ victory over St Mirren, even fist-bumping along as supporters sang it during the closing stages.
Gerrard choosing the same song for his post-match reunion with Halliday therefore felt particularly well timed.
And naturally, Rangers fans have been left wondering whether there was more to it.
A message to McInnes?
It would be a stretch to claim that Gerrard’s choice of song was definitely intended as some sort of public endorsement of McInnes.
There is no confirmation of that.
But the timing certainly makes it an intriguing possibility.
Gerrard had watched McInnes oversee his fifth straight victory since taking charge, with the latest one arguably the most significant of them all.
Rangers had not merely beaten Celtic.
They had dismantled them.
Dan Neil scored twice, Kevin Kelsy added another and Celtic were left with no answer as Rangers powered into the cup semi-finals.
For McInnes, it represented a major statement after taking over during a period when Rangers desperately needed stability.
And Gerrard, who knows better than most what it means to manage Rangers in an Old Firm environment, was there to witness it.
The 45-year-old’s relationship with the club remains strong despite his departure several years ago, while his former Rangers players clearly retain plenty of affection for him.
His reunion with Arfield and Halliday after such a huge derby victory therefore made for a rather fitting end to his discreet return.
There was no attempt to dominate the headlines.
No television appearance.
No major public statement.
Just a baseball cap, a quiet afternoon watching Rangers destroy Celtic and then a handful of social media posts with familiar faces.
And one very familiar Ibrox song.
Rangers fans are loving it
The reaction from supporters has unsurprisingly been overwhelmingly positive.
For a section of the Rangers support, Gerrard remains one of the most significant figures of the modern era at Ibrox.
He ended the club’s long wait for a league title during the 2020/21 campaign and left behind a group of players who still speak highly of him.
Seeing him back at Ibrox for an Old Firm derby was therefore always going to generate interest.
But seeing him celebrating afterwards with former Rangers players — while posting Penny Arcade — has added another layer to the story.
Whether it was simply a nostalgic choice or a subtle show of support for the current Rangers regime, supporters are clearly happy to read into it.
And perhaps the most interesting part is that Gerrard didn’t need to say anything at all.
His presence at Ibrox was enough.
He watched Rangers produce a commanding Old Firm victory, reunited with two of his former players afterwards and left fans with a song that has become synonymous with the atmosphere around the club.
Maybe it was just nostalgia.
Maybe it was a show of solidarity with McInnes.
Or maybe Gerrard simply enjoyed watching Rangers put Celtic to the sword before catching up with a few old friends.
Whatever the intention, Rangers supporters are certainly lapping it up.
Nafisa
