Rangers Football Club is at a crucial moment in its long and storied history as it looks to replace embattled—and perhaps eponymous manager—Mark Warburton. The club, who last week sacked Michael Beale, have already drawn up a long list of names to replace him. Steven Gerrard though, is a tremendous anomaly. His glorious spell in charge of the club ended with a Scottish Premiership title in 2021. Even among those who think he should come back, not everyone thinks so.
Gerrard has been filling his days since leaving Saudi side Al-Ettifaq in January. Prior to that, he was in charge of Aston Villa for less than a year after making the jump from Rangers. His complicated past relationship with the club deepens that impression. His brilliant achievements only do so further. Former player Kris Boyd thinks he “ticks a lot of boxes” for the managerial gig. Boyd claims that Rangers do not yet appear to be sure of their decision in relation to who they want as their next manager.
Gerrard’s previous backroom staff included Michael Beale, who had a brief stint as Rangers’ manager but was unable to secure a long-term future with the team. If Gerrard is to come back, he would surely have to shake up his coaching staff completely. This evolution is necessary to be true to the club’s current mission and future dream.
Along with Gerrard, a handful of other names have already appeared early in speculation around the job. Davide Ancelotti, son of renowned coach Carlo Ancelotti, is keen to step into a head coaching role after years of assisting his father at clubs like Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton, and Real Madrid. That experience, if he’s pursued for the Rangers gig, should be seen as an asset.
Danny Rohl, former Luton Town chief Rob Edwards, and ex-Bournemouth and Wolves gaffer Gary O’Neil are all under consideration for the role. Publicly, their names have been most publicly associated with this role. Rohl’s name has become prominent not just for the Rangers opening, but as a favorite to fill the Southampton job. Edwards had worked with new Southampton boss Kevin Thelwell at Wolves, deepening Edwards’ ties to Southampton and the layers of familiarity attached to his candidacy.
Russell Martin has joined the discussion too after being a free agent since December. His playing days, particularly with Rangers in 2018, should strike a chord with supporters. His recent appointment to the role of manager could provide him with an advantage of knowing the specific demands of the role.
Kris Boyd’s explanation was simple and effective — You need to find the right person who is able to deal with the pressure that managing Rangers will bring. He stated, “Rangers need to get someone who understands it, gets it, can deal with the pressures and the demands.” If Boyd’s assertion sounds vague or esoteric, he has a concrete example in mind of Gerrard’s ability to galvanize people.
“Steven showed he can do that for three years in Glasgow. He can deal with that; he’s had it all his life.” – Kris Boyd
Boyd expressed concern that many potential candidates might hesitate to take on the Rangers role due to its intense pressures and expectations. He noted, “That there will be a lot of coaches and managers out there that, for me, will be scared to take the Rangers job because of the pressures and demands that comes along with it.”
For Rangers, the search for a new permanent manager is underway. They must find the sweet spot for experience versus a new approach. While Gerrard’s past successes make him a compelling candidate, the club must consider how potential hires can navigate the high expectations associated with leading one of Scotland’s most storied teams.
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