Derek McInnes has already experienced a rather unusual chapter away from football management, with the Rangers boss once appearing on the big screen as a footballer.
McInnes featured in the 2002 football film, shot in 1999, A Shot at Glory, which starred Hollywood heavyweights Robert Duvall and Michael Keaton alongside Rangers legend Ally McCoist playing a fictional former Celtic striker Jackie McQuillan.
The movie follows fictional Scottish club Kilnockie FC as they embark on an unlikely Scottish Cup run, eventually facing Rangers in the final.
McInnes was one of a number of real Scottish footballers involved in the production, appearing as a player for Rangers in the movie.
The Rangers connection was particularly notable given McInnes' own career at Ibrox. He joined Rangers as a midfielder in 1995 under Walter Smith, although he made only a handful of first-team appearances before moving on in 2000 after falling out of Dick Advocaat’s plans.
His brief acting role came during a period when the film's producers recruited a host of genuine Scottish footballers to give the match scenes greater authenticity.
A Shot at Glory also featured McCoist playing McQuillan, an ageing former Celtic star, while Brian Cox portrayed Rangers manager Martin Smith.
The film's fictional Rangers side included several real players, with ex-Celtic defender Didier Agathe and ex-Gers duo Derek Ferguson and Ally Maxwell among those appearing as fictional Ibrox players, while Owen Coyle featured as a teammate of McCoist’s.
The production was filmed at locations around Scotland, including Hampden Park, Kilmarnock's Rugby Park and the former Boghead Park in Dumbarton.
McCoist famously joked about his foray into acting for the 2000 sports film A Shot at Glory: “With the greatest of respect, there was always a chance I could score an overhead kick in a cup final,” referencing his 1993 goal against Hibernian after his return from long-term injury.
It remains one of the more unusual footnotes in McInnes' career, long before he returned to Ibrox as Rangers manager, he had already played the part of a Rangers footballer on screen as well as in reality.
