Rangers are on the lookout for a new manager following Steven Gerrard’s decision to leave to join Aston Villa.
Gerrard joined Rangers in 2018 following a spell in charge of Liverpool’s U18 side and enjoyed a successful three-and-a-half-year spell at Ibrox, notably leading the club to a 55th Scottish Premiership title last season to prevent Celtic from winning their 10th successive title. Rangers are currently four points clear of their city rivals at the top of the table.
The 41-year-old also received plaudits for guiding the club to the Europa League knockout stages in successive campaigns and for developing Alfredo Morelos, James Tavernier and Ryan Kent, amongst others during his time in charge.
Rangers chairman Douglas Park thanked Gerrard for “delivering the Scottish Premiership title back to Ibrox” and “restoring the good name and credibility of our club on the continent” while sporting director Ross Wilson praised him for “making the club win again”.
Attention now turns to who could replace Gerrard in the home dugout at Ibrox.
Next Rangers manager odds
- Giovanni van Bronckhorst – 6-4
- Russell Martin – 7-2
- Derek McInnes – 6-1
- Callum Davidson – 10-1
- Alex Neil – 10-1
- John Terry – 10-1
- Frank Lampard – 12-1
- Dean Smith – 16-1
- Ally McCoist – 20-1
- Gennaro Gattuso – 20-1
- Michael Laudrup – 20-1
*Odds via Coral and correct as of November 11
Giovanni van Bronckhorst
Former Rangers, Arsenal and Barcelona player Giovanni van Bronckhorst is believed to be the frontrunner for the job after being without a club for almost a year. The 46-year-old managed Guangzhou R&F in the Chinese Super League from January to December last year but left following a disappointing campaign.
Van Bronckhorst was far more successful in his previous job with Feyenoord where he won the Eredivisie in 2016-17, ending the club’s 18-year wait for a league title. He also won two Dutch Cups during a four-year spell in charge.
A left-back and central midfielder in his playing days, Van Bronckhorst enjoyed a fruitful three-year spell with Rangers between 1998-2001, helping the club win two Scottish titles, two Scottish Cups and a Scottish League Cup prior to joining Arsenal. He also earned 106 caps for the Dutch national team, captaining his country in the 2010 World Cup final defeat against Spain.
Russell Martin
Another former Rangers player, albeit only for half a season during the 2017-18 season. A move for Russell Martin would likely be more complicated than one for Van Bronckhorst given he only signed a three-year contract with his current club Swansea City in August.
The 35-year-old began his managerial career with MK Dons in November 2019 and earned praise for implementing a possession-based style of play at the League One club. According to The Athletic, only Barcelona and Manchester City averaged a higher rate of possession in Europe last season than MK Dons.
Derek McInnes
Rangers pursued Derek McInnes for a number of months during the 2017-18 season, only for the then Aberdeen boss to turn down the club. Rangers subsequently released a much-criticised statement questioning whether McInnes was “ready” to take on a job of such magnitude.
McInnes is a boyhood Rangers fan and spent five years playing for the club, two of which were spent alongside Van Bronckhorst, during the 1990s and early 2000s. The 50-year-old has managed St Johnstone, Bristol City and Aberdeen since hanging up his boots in 2008.
He won the Scottish First Division title with St Johnstone in 2008 and the Scottish League Cup with Aberdeen in 2014. During his time at Pittodrie, Aberdeen secured four consecutive runners-up finishes in the Scottish Premiership and were beaten finalists in both domestic cup competitions to Celtic in 2016-17.
Frank Lampard
Frank Lampard took Derby County to the Championship play-off final in 2019 before being appointed by Chelsea where he finished fourth in the Premier League table and reached the FA Cup final at the end of his first season. Things turned sour for the Chelsea legend in his second campaign in charge and he was dismissed in January following a poor run of results.
Lampard has been out of work since being replaced by Thomas Tuchel at Stamford Bridge and has recently been linked with the vacant post at Norwich City following Daniel Farke’s sacking last weekend. Having seen the success that his former England midfield partner Gerrard enjoyed in Glasgow, Lampard may be tempted to head north of the border for his next managerial gig.
Dean Smith
Dean Smith could be offered a quick route back into management after his sacking by Aston Villa last weekend. Although Villa have made a poor start to the season, losing each of their last five Premier League matches, Smith did a good job, earning promotion from the Championship in 2019 before consolidating the club in the top-flight over the past two seasons.
Prior to joining Villa in 2018, Smith had enjoyed successful spells in charge of Walsall and Brentford in the lower leagues of English football.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3n5RNMH
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