Glasgow Rangers face arguably their most important summer in recent memory. Barry Ferguson’s interim spell will finish at the end of the season, which means that the Ibrox side will be looking for a permanent manager.
The news story which has dominated the previous few weeks was whether or not the 49ers Enterprises would finalise their proposed takeover of the club heading into the summer.
The latest on Rangers' prospective takeover by the 49ers
An update given by the Scottish Sun a few days ago stated that Andrew Cavenagh and the San Francisco 49ers have secured the required shares to complete their takeover at Rangers.
The American consortium has acquired 51% of the Gers and is expected to complete the multimillion-pound deal by the end of next month.
Firstly, they will have to bring in a new manager to the club, especially with pre-season looming on the horizon.
After several poor managerial decisions, this next one has to be spot on, otherwise the Gers will continue to see Celtic motor away, hoovering up all the Champions League cash and winning title after title.
A couple of names have been linked with a move to Glasgow, but one stands out among the others, especially with his history…
Will Rangers really appoint Jose Mourinho?
Three Premier Leagues, two Champions Leagues, a La Liga title, two UEFA Cups/Europa League crowns. The list of Jose Mourinho’s achievements in the game are second to very few.
The truth is, he has won just a single trophy since the start of the 2017/18 campaign, and that was the Conference League with AS Roma in May 2022.
He showed plenty of respect when Rangers knocked Fenerbahçe out of the Europa League at the last-16 stage in March, even coming into the dressing room to offer congratulations and wish the squad well going forwards.
Mourinho has always preferred a defensive style of play, and given what the Ibrox support have been witness to in recent years, this won’t exactly be music to their ears, that’s for sure.
Of course, it may lead to more success domestically, but going for a manager who is keen on attacking football and has a proper philosophy would be the ideal appointment for the long-term future.
Mourinho rarely hangs around longer than three seasons, but this team requires a manager who is in it for the long haul. Someone who can build a dynasty that will challenge Celtic over the coming years.
Could Gerrard do it again?
Steven Gerrard now open to a Rangers return
According to TEAMtalk, the Light Blues are after a high-profile manager to take the reins ahead of the 2025/26 season, which means a return for Gerrard is on the cards.
The report goes on to state that the former manager of the Gers would be very open to a return to the club that he managed between 2018 and 2021, winning a single Premiership title during that spell.
His departure in November 2021 was arguably due to the fact that he wasn’t properly backed that summer, having led Rangers to their first domestic title in a decade, yet things would be better this time around.
Gerrard isn’t the only big name that has been mentioned with regard to the job, either. TEAMtalk understands that the aforementioned Mourinho is another manager who would be open to a move to Glasgow, although this would be more difficult to get over the line.
2021/22
22
41
1.86
2020/21
56
141
2.52
2019/20
54
110
2.17
2018/19
60
115
1.9
He has a contract with Fener until 2026, which means the Ibrox side would have to pay substantial compensation to lure him away. His wages would also be an issue.
Mourinho may be the headline name, but his style and combustible nature might not go down too well with the Gers faithful.
Why Rangers return for Gerrard makes sense
Gerrard may have failed at his previous two jobs with Al-Ettifaq and Aston Villa since leaving Glasgow in 2021, but his appointment could mirror that of Celtic bringing Brendan Rodgers back to the club.
The former Liverpool captain may have taken a few years to achieve success at Rangers, but those were spent building a team which could go toe-to-toe with their domestic rivals.
Throughout his three-year spell with the club, Gerrard won seven of his 12 games against Celtic, losing just four. Two of those came during his first season when his squad was arguably at its weakest.
A lack of success against the Parkhead outfit is why the fans turned on managers such as Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Michael Beale and finally Phillipe Clement. Gerrard certainly wouldn’t be fazed by Rodgers’ side, that much is certain.
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His preferred system is a 4-3-3, which worked wonders for him, especially during the title-winning 2020/21 campaign.
Alfredo Morelos was often flanked by Ryan Kent on the left and Joe Aribo or Ianis Hagi on the right. Steven Davis and Glen Kamara operated at the heart of the midfield and provided superb defensive support.
Add in the likes of Connor Goldson and Filip Helander at the centre of the defence and Allan McGregor in goal, it was perhaps no wonder the club conceded just 13 goals throughout the entire campaign in the league.
This sort of formation would work wonders with the current squad, especially as Gerrard would hopefully get free rein in the transfer market to bring in his own transfer targets ahead of next season.
Much will depend on other managers who may become linked and show interest in the role over the next few weeks, but at this moment in time, Gerrard is the one who stands out.
He knows the club, knows how to beat Celtic on a regular basis and more importantly, knows how to win a league championship.
These three factors could prove to be a massive advantage when it comes to staking his claim for a return to the Glasgow side. Will it happen? Only time will tell.
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