Rangers made the significant decision to part ways with Belgian head coach Philippe Clement last month following a series of disappointing results.
The former Club Brugge manager was dismissed after a 2-0 loss to St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership, though his departure could have come earlier after the Light Blues suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to second-tier side Queen’s Park in the SFA Cup.
At the time, Rangers trailed Celtic by 13 points in the title race and had already been eliminated from both domestic cup competitions, making the board’s decision relatively straightforward. However, rather than appointing a permanent replacement before the summer, they opted for Barry Ferguson as interim manager until the end of the season.
Meanwhile, a takeover involving key figures such as Paraag Marathe, president of 49ers Enterprises, and Andrew Cavenagh, executive chairman of ParetoHealth, has reportedly been agreed in principle.
The delay in appointing a long-term manager may be due to the incoming ownership, who are said to have a highly experienced candidate in mind.
Rangers Eyeing Champions League-Winning Coach
According to the *Daily Record*, Spanish manager Rafa Benitez is a target for the 49ers consortium as they search for a full-time replacement for Ferguson ahead of the 2025/26 season.
The report suggests that the prospective owners are considering the former Liverpool and Everton boss, who famously won the Champions League with the Reds in 2005. Benitez is reportedly one of the leading candidates for the job, though several other names remain under consideration.
Journalist Scott Burns, speaking on *Hotline Live*, stated:
*”It was suggested to me on Saturday that Benitez was one of the options Rangers were exploring. When I say Rangers, I mean the incoming owners, who are looking at potential candidates. I was told they were planning to speak to him. However, when I checked with a source close to Benitez and his agent, they said no contact had been made so far.”*
This indicates that the 49ers group is still in the early stages of their managerial search, leaving them time to evaluate other options.
Why Rangers Should Look Beyond Rafa Benitez
While Benitez, with his experience managing clubs like Real Madrid and Liverpool, would be a high-profile appointment to lead Rangers into a new era, he may not be the right fit for the club’s ambitions.
Rangers need a manager capable of implementing a dominant style of play to challenge Celtic for the league title and achieve success in cup competitions.
Benitez has not won a domestic league title since guiding Valencia to La Liga glory in 2004, and his last major cup triumph came with Napoli in the Italian Cup back in 2012.
Since taking over at Newcastle in 2016, the 64-year-old has struggled to maintain a strong points-per-game record, with none of his stints at Newcastle, Dalian Professional, Everton, or Celta Vigo surpassing an average of 1.48 points per game.
As highlighted in a *Tifo Football* analysis, Benitez’s approach in recent years has been pragmatic, often favoring a defensive and cautious style of play. This may not align with Rangers’ need for an attack-minded manager who can dominate games and secure consistent victories.
Instead, the club should consider alternatives, such as Russell Martin, who could better fit their long-term vision.
Leave a Reply