Rangers will look to hire a title-winning manager whose record is “second to none”, according to a fresh claim from Derek Ferguson.
Rangers hurtling towards momentous manager decision
It is going to be another season without a Scottish Premiership title for the Gers, with Celtic’s dominance over them something that needs to be addressed this summer. Rangers have a massive decision to make when it comes to their next permanent boss, with Barry Ferguson doing a solid job in interim charge to date, keeping his side in the Europa League, as they prepare to take on Athletic Bilbao in the quarter-finals next week.
There is a strong argument to say that a more proven manager needs to arrive at Ibrox before the start of next season, however, in order to give the Gers the best possible chance of getting their hands on the league title again, slowly returning to being the dominant force of Scottish football.
Plenty of names have been mentioned since the sacking of Philippe Clement, from Steven Gerrard to Kevin Muscat, but it’s another high-profile link dominating plenty of talk around Ibrox.
Benitez backed to be next Rangers manager
Speaking to Ibrox News, Ferguson talked up the idea of Rangers hiring Rafa Benitez as their next manager, saying he would help narrow the gap on Celtic.
“You look at his CV and it shows you he’s won plenty. Barry brings passion and everything Rangers supporters want, but at the end of the day, when you look at a CV, Benitez’s is second to none. You can’t ignore that. I’m like a lot of the supporters in being excited by results under Barry, but when there’s guys of the calibre of Benitez putting their name forward, I’m all for that. I just want Rangers to be back competing with Celtic. Guys of Benitez’s quality will only help with that.”
Benitez has to be considered one of the strongest options out there to be Rangers’ next permanent boss, considering what a glittering managerial career he has enjoyed – he is also reportedly keen on taking the job.
The Spaniard won two La Liga titles with Valencia during his time in charge, getting the better of both Real Madrid and Barcelona, and he also famously won the Champions League with Liverpool back in 2005.
Real Madrid Castilla
1993-1995
Real Valladolid
1995-1996
Osasuna
1996
Extremadura
1997-1999
Tenerife
2000-2001
Valencia
2001-2004
Liverpool
2004-2010
Inter Milan
2010
Chelsea
2012-2013
Napoli
2013-2015
Real Madrid
2015-2016
Newcastle United
2016-2019
Dalian Professional
2019-2021
Everton
2021-2022
Celta Vigo
2023-2024
Even when Benitez has found himself under pressure at clubs, he has enjoyed success, and he won the Europa League with Chelsea at a time when he was largely unpopular with the fanbase, due to his Reds past.
If Rangers could entice the 64-year-old to Ibrox this summer, it would be a major statement of intent, given the fact that he was once seen as one of Europe’s two most exciting upcoming managers, alongside Jose Mourinho in the early 2000s.
Rangers must sell Ibrox star who was "one of the best talents in Europe"
As Rangers prepare for a massive squad overhaul in the summer, they should sell a star Gerrard once said was “one of the best talents in Europe”.
ByBen Gray
The £6m-a-year Benitez is a born winner with great tactical nous, and with all due respect to the popular Ferguson, he would be an undoubted upgrade overall.