New Rangers manager candidates examined
Michael Beale has been relieved of his duties as Rangers manager this past weekend following a horrible start to the campaign.
It means the club is now in a similar position to what they were in just under a year ago in looking to find a new boss after only 12 months in charge.
It’s a cycle the club need to get out of quickly, having went through 1/6 of their overall managers in their history in the past two years.
To the board’s credit, they’ve been open in saying they will not rush this appointment, with Steven Davis taking temporary charge until the international break.
As you’d expect, several names have already been mentioned as potential top candidates to replace Beale, ranging from the outrageous to the overly ambitious.
Through this though, there does appear to be four names who seemed to have been pushed further up the pecking order these last few days than others.
Kevin Muscat
A man who was mentioned as a successor to Gio last year, the Australian did of course play for Rangers for one season during the 2002/03 campaign in which he wasn’t trusted by Alex McLeish to play in an Old Firm game.
Currently managing in Japan, he is of course currently best known as being the heir apparent to Ange Postecoglou, having served as his assistant before taking over from him at Yokohama Marinos when he departed for Celtic.
Having one the J League title last year, he has carried on what Ange built both in terms of winning trophies and playing an expansive attacking style of football, so no shock that the board might want to replicate what happened across the city of the past couple of years.
Would definitely give the players verbals if they didn’t perform as well.
Pascal Jansen
Relatively inexperienced as a manager and like Beale, came into the job he is in having gained a strong reputation as a coach.
However, Jansen has managed to get AZ Alkmaar performing well in amongst the top level of the Dutch league and got them within one game of a European final last season.
He sets his team up to play with a quick turnover style pressing approach with plenty of runners getting in behind, and was mentioned as a possible candidate for the Celtic job earlier in the summer.
With Alkmaar currently sitting second in the league though, might be a tough one to prize away, although he is interested if reports are to be believed.
Philippe Clement
Rangers fan would also like a proven winner as way as someone who plays attractive football, and the Belgian Clement certainly fits the bill.
He won three successive titles in a tough league in Belgium with first Genk and then Club Brugge before guiding Monaco to third in Ligue 1 before being dismissed this summer.
His use of a asymmetrical back four where only one full back attacks at a time could help solidify Rangers more at the back, especially with the aging Tavernier and Barisic, whilst his dynamism in transition will be a refreshing change of pace.
A strong option available without club ties, he’s also got a good relationship with renowned sporting director Paul Mitchell, which could be a double benefit to Rangers.
Frank Lampard
The biggest name linked in terms of profile in the game, as well as one that is building up steam, although not one many fans will want.
Lampard on paper would seem like a move to replicate the success that Steven Gerrard achieved at the club.
But he’s not known for playing a particularly pleasing style of football and his recent stints at Everton and Chelsea were nothing short of a disaster.
Probably the only upsides to his appointment would be the ability to attract certain players to the club, as well as his use of youth products at previous clubs.