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Gordon Strachan believes Steven Gerrard was right to choose Rangers

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard (C), with assistant Gary McAllister (R), in the dug out during the Pre-Season Friendly between Rangers and Bury at I...
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Gerrard opted to join Rangers last summer despite interest from some English Football League clubs.

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard reacts on the side line as he watches his team comfortably beat Bury 6-0 during the Pre-Season Friendly between Rangers and Bury at Ibrox Stadium on July 6,...

Former Celtic and Scotland manager Gordon Strachan has told the Evening Times that Steven Gerrard was correct to choose Rangers instead of a move to an English club.

Gerrard, 38, put pen to paper on a three-year deal to become the new Rangers manager back in May, and finally begins his reign as Gers boss on Thursday in what is his first competitive fixture with the Gers.

The former Liverpool and England captain took to the Ibrox dugout for the first time on Friday, as Rangers smashed English League Two side Bury by six goals to nil.

He faces FK Shkupi on Thursday in the first round of Europa League qualifying at Ibrox and Strachan reckons that he made the best choice to join Rangers – rather than starting in the lower leagues of England.

“People have been asking should he have joined Rangers as they’re a big club, but he might as well do that because you’re mostly judged on your first job anyway,” Strachan said.

“He might have gone to Ipswich or Crewe and not done well there and would have had to build up his career again, but he’s done the right thing going to Rangers.”

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard reacts on the side line as he watches his team comfortably beat Bury 6-0 during the Pre-Season Friendly between Rangers and Bury at Ibrox Stadium on July 6,...

The former midfielder was approached by MK Dons since his retirement from professional football in 2016 after a year with MLS outfit LA Galayxy. But he rejected a move before taking up the role at Ibrox.

Gerrard has wasted no time in his stamping his mark on the Rangers squad, bringing in seven new players and more are expected – even before Thursday’s first leg against the Macedonian side.

Rangers will be hoping to do a lot better than their showing in the qualifying rounds last term, which saw Pedro Caixinha’s side suffer an embarrassing loss to Progres Niederkorn.

Scotland's head coach Gordon Strachan looks on after the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualification football match between Slovenia and Scotland at the Stadium Stozice in Ljubljana, Slovenia on...