Caixinha signs on after veil of secrecy
THE man known as the Portuguese 007 finally arrived in Scotland with all the cunning of a secret agent.
Pedro Caixinha was smuggled out of Glasgow Airport yesterday before travelling to Ibrox Stadium to sign a three-year contract to become the new manager of Rangers.
The 46-year-old flew in from Dubai, and did his best to avoid the supporters who had gathered to greet Mark Warburton’s replacement.
Caixinha negotiated his release from Al-Gharafa of Qatar on Thursday and was accompanied on the journey to Scotland by his fitness coach, Pedro Malta.
He will watch this afternoon’s Old Firm match from a seat in the Parkhead stand, leaving Graeme Murty to take charge of the team.
The Rangers players will meet their new boss tomorrow morning.
Caixinha said: “It is a great honour to join Rangers Football Club.
“This club has a great history and tradition and I am proud to follow in the footsteps of legendary Rangers managers like Walter Smith, Graeme Souness and Jock Wallace.
“Rangers is a name that is known worldwide and I am looking forward to forging a positive relationship with supporters and meeting the playing squad and staff.
“I know there is a lot of hard work ahead and I assure all our fans that I will do all I can to provide a winning and entertaining Rangers team.”
This will be Caixinha’s fifth job as head coach. Prior to 2010, worked as an assistant manager.
Rangers Managing Director Stewart Robertson said: “We compiled a shortlist of high-quality candidates for the position, but we knew after our initial meeting with Pedro that he was the right man to take this club forward.
“He is a man of great experience and authority and the Board has no doubt he will help us achieve our long-term goals.”
Rangers will now set about appointing a Director of Football after being turned down by Southampton’s Ross Wilson.
Former Newcastle manager Alan Pardew is currently in Glasgow, but his past relationship with Magpies owner Mike Ashley would make him an unlikely candidate.