GRAEME Souness, the Liverpool legend who moved into management at Rangers, today told Steve Gerrard, who has held talks with the Ibrox club about taking over in the summer, to "go for it son".

British football was stunned earlier this week when it emerged that representatives of the Ladbrokes Premiership club had met with Gerrard about becoming the permanent replacement for Pedro Caixinha.

The 37-year-old, who brought an end to his outstanding playing career less than two years ago, is currently the under-18 coach at Anfield, has no managerial experience.

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However, Scotland great Souness was in an identical position back in 1986 when he took over and he enjoyed tremendous success during his five years in charge.

The 64-year-old was helped by the financial backing he received from the Ibrox board during his spell in Govan and he admitted this was not the ideal time to take over.

But, speaking on Sky Sports following the Liverpool game against Stoke City at Anfield, he told Gerrard that the opportunity may never arise again and urged him to "go for it son".

Souness told the former England captain he would become a "God" in the eyes of the Rangers support if he can end the domestic dominance of Celtic - who are managed by former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers - if he does take the job.

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"If he does go he is going to a fantastic football club who for the best part of a decade have been in the doldrums for whatever reasons," he said.

"He has spent the vast majority of his life at a very passionate football which is one of the few football clubs in England that is an institution and if he goes to Glasgow he will be going to a football club that is an institution. I would say the same about Celtic.

"Why is it an institution? Because of what it means to the supporters. If Steven decides to go there it is not the best time to manage Glasgow Rangers because of their difficulties. But what a job! If he goes up there and gets it half right he will be a God.

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"You know what Glasgow is like. Football is everything up there. So it he's got the chance go for it son because you never know what the future holds. You might never get the chance to manage a club like that again.

"He has to finish first. That is the challenge. It is no good going up there, playing great football and finishing second. You have got to top Celtic and right now Celtic are in the box seat."