The Rangers managerial search has now stretched into a second week, following Russell Martin’s dismissal on Sunday, October 5, after a drab draw away to newly promoted Falkirk.
Since then, several frontrunners have emerged and fallen away. Former Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard held multiple rounds of talks with the board, including Andrew Cavanagh and Paraag Marathe, over a potential return to the post he held between 2018 and 2021. However, the former Liverpool captain eventually withdrew, with sources citing ongoing tax complications from his spell in Saudi Arabia and concerns over the club’s current footballing structure.
Danny Röhl, who impressed during his interview after leaving Sheffield Wednesday, also removed himself from contention this week following a protracted wait for a final decision. That has left former Rangers defender and current Shanghai Port manager Kevin Muscat as the frontrunner.
Muscat’s situation is complicated by Shanghai’s title charge in the Chinese Super League: Port sit top of the table with four games remaining, which could delay any move for several weeks. With Rangers unwilling to be left in limbo, alternative candidates remain under consideration.
One of those is Ole Gunnar Solskjær, the former Manchester United player and manager who most recently took charge of Turkish side Beşiktaş following his 2021 departure from Old Trafford.
Solskjær’s name surfaced this week thanks to former United teammate Paul Scholes, who hinted on The Good, the Bad and the Football Podcast that the Norwegian had been in touch with Rangers.
“I was actually with a lad the other night who told me he was going to meet Rangers,” said Scholes. “I'm not sure if he did, but they contacted him, and he was going to meet them in London the next day.”
Co-host and former United midfielder Nicky Butt reacted knowingly, saying: “Oh, I know who you mean.” When pressed by host Paddy McGuinness on whether it was a current manager, Scholes replied, “No.”
Asked if the mystery man had managed Manchester United, he smiled and said: “No comment… but funnily enough, his name’s not been mentioned.”
When Butt teased, “Ole you’re talking about, aren’t you?” Scholes laughed and repeated: “No comment.”
While Muscat remains the overwhelming favourite and is expected to be appointed in the near future, expected to be in the position alongside former Rangers winger Neil McCann as his assistant, who worked as part of Barry Ferguson’s interim coaching team for the latter stages of last season, Scholes’ comments suggest he is not the only name still in the frame, and the only egg in the Rangers managerial basket.