As we write, Rangers Football Club is looking for a new manager. This follows the departure of Steven Gerrard, who had managed the team to their first Premiership title in 2021. Training with the new squad – pre-season starts June 23. The club is in desperate need to hire a new manager ahead of the new Scottish Premiership season kicking off in early August.
Even more worrying, though, is how the club’s challenges are aggravated by the Champions League qualifiers set for late July. At least a half dozen candidates are said to still be in the mix. One of them is Davide Ancelotti, who is looking to establish a managerial career of his own after helping father Carlo Ancelotti at clubs including Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton and Real Madrid.
Social media tycoon and former Rangers player Kris Boyd said the club was losing its way in the process of looking for a new manager. He thinks Gerrard is the best candidate and one that “ticks a lot of boxes.” Even with all that, the club appears not to have settled decisively on their ultimate choice. Boyd reiterated that the person needs to be able to deal with the intense pressures that come with the job of Ranger chief.
“Rangers need to get someone who understands it, gets it, can deal with the pressures and the demands,” – Kris Boyd
Gerrard’s reign at Aston Villa was a brief one, under a year. He then took on a new role as manager for Saudi outfit Al-Ettifaq, but departed that job in January. His prior experience at Rangers laid a solid foundation for his understanding of the club’s unique environment, something that Boyd believes is crucial for any potential successor.
“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
As the club continues to steer through this remarkable moment in football, other candidates have risen in concert with Ancelotti. Danny Rohl, Rob Edwards, Gary O’Neil, and Russell Martin are all in the running for the limbo of managerial replacement. Martin was a key player in Rangers’ miraculous 2018 run and can provide crucial insights into the club’s culture.
Boyd raised a valid point on the coaching future for Rangers. Few others will be willing to accept the position, knowing that the most extreme expectations accompany the job.
“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.” – Kris Boyd
The urgency to appoint a new leader becomes even more acute as the team readies itself for pre-season training. Champions League qualifiers coming up fast at the end of July. Whoever the new manager is, they will need to hit the ground running to start what we hope will be a successful season!
Rangers’ management is now at a critical juncture. They have to choose the right one, one who can master the tactical acumen required today but understand the club’s tremendous legacy and the lofty demands that come with it.
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