Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
THE EARLY CONTENDERS TO SUCCEED GIO AS MAIN MAN AT IBROX STADIUM
RANGERS are looking for their 18th permanent manager as the axe finally fell on Giovanni van Bronckhorst days after his first anniversary at the helm.
The end came nine days after the sobering draw with St Mirren which left them nine points adrift of Celtic heading into the World Cup break.
Having led the club to a Europa League Final and Scottish Cup win last season, fans were buoyant over what a full season under the former midfielder could hold despite Ange Postecoglou’s galvanising influence upon a formerly beleaguered Celtic team.
Events started brightly with Champions League qualification over PSV, alongside a strong start to the Scottish Premiership.
But the worst ever group stage campaign in tournament history coupled with paltry performances domestically put Van Bronckhorst under real scrutiny before the executive decision to relieve him of his duties. But who could replace him? Here are potential replacements.
Sean Dyche 3/1
Dyche has been without a job since Burnley sacked him back in April after an impressive nine-and-a-half-year stay that includied a seventh place Premiership finish in 2017-18. With summer signings Ridvan Yilmaz, Malik Tillman and Rabbi Matondo needing guidance, Dyche appears capable of boosting morale. James Tavernier, Connor Goldson and ex-clarets favourite Scott Arfield bring the experience he could call upon. Dyche loves a challenge and knows sporting director Ross Wilson from their time at Watford together.
Kevin Muscat 4/1
A title-winning manager from Yokohama Marinos was just the tonic for Celtic but would Rangers repeat the trick? The former Ibrox star was more of a passing figure than club legend but his managerial chops suggest someone capable of galvanising a squad in need of a spark. Muscat (left) has been hotly-tipped as a contender to become the next Socceroos boss but would a return to Europe prove too much to turn down?
Michael Beale 6/1
Beale, unlike his former companion Gerrard, has gone from strength to strength since leaving Rangers and there’s a tangible sense he would win the popular vote among Ibrox punters. Taking control of
QPR, he has led the London-based side to promotion contention in the Championship. Of course, he turned relegation favourites Wolves down earlier this month but his visit to Ibrox for the Aberdeen win did little to quell belief he would be seriously consider a return to Glasgow.
Ralph Hasenhuttl 8/1
The Austrian (right) was sacked by Southampton after the combination of new owners and poor form put a target on his back. Hasenhuttl kept Saints up after replacing Mark Hughes in 2018 and enjoys a close relationship with Ross Wilson. The pair worked closely together at St Mary’s for a year before Wilson was poached for the director of football gig at Ibrox.
Kjetil Knutsen 8/1
Knutsen became continentally renowned by football fans after leading Norwegian side Bodo/glimt from Nordic obscurity to a Cinderella European outfit. Leading the Eliteserien side to their first stint in European football for 16 years, they massively impressed by running Milan close at the San Siro in a 3-2 defeat. A top flight title followed the season after and, after remaining unbeaten in their Europa Conference League group including a draw at Roma and a 6-1 win over Jose Mourinho’s men in the return leg, Knutsen drew immense credit. Celtic then felt the wrath with a 5-1 aggregate defeat in February.
Steven Gerrard 9/1
They couldn’t, could they? The re-appointment of Gerrard would surely divide opinion in Govan, with many believing the Liverpool legend left the club in the lurch when he suddenly departed for Aston Villa almost a year ago. Recently sacked by the Villans, Gerrard is now back on the managerial scrapheap despite winning the Scottish Premiership title in 2020/21.
Scott Parker 12/1
Parker’s sacking from Bournemouth caused shockwaves in the Premier League but his CV is one of the most impressive for a young manager in the UK, having won promotion to the Premier League twice in three seasons with Fulham and Bournemouth.