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 Dutchman had been under mounting pressure before a reprieve appeared in the offing. However, the axe fell on Monday, 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; though 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? Record Sport takes a look at nine potential replacements at Rangers.
Sean Dyche
Dyche has been without a job since Burnley sacked him back in April after an impressive nine-and-a-half-year stay which saw him drag the Championship relegation candidates to consistent a Premier League presence, even finishing seventh in the top-flight back in 2017-18. His time at Turf Moor came to an end as the club had failed to back him in the transfer market for a number of years; ultimately, the spending at the start of the 2021/22 season was not enough to replenish an ageing squad and results ultimately suffered.
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. Add to the defensive principles the no-nonsense manager implemented in his time at east Lancashire and his achievements as an underdog for all those years. Dyche loves a challenge and knows sporting director Ross Wilson from their time at Watford together.
Michael Beale
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 as he aims to reach the promised land of the Premier League.
Of course, he turned relegation favourites Wolves down earlier this month - but with the former Gers coach still high in the bookies' odds, his name will come into contention. His visit to Ibrox for the Aberdeen win did little to quell belief he would be seriously consider a return to Glasgow.
Kjetil Knutsen
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 with a season that saw 26 wins from just 30 games in 2020 - 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; if Rangers can lure Knutsen to Ibrox and he repeat similar results against their bitter rivals and on the continent he would only add to his glistening CV.
Kevin Muscat
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 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? If Muscat was the choice it would lead to a fascinating battle of wits with compatriot and mentor Ange Postecoglou who he replaced as Marinos boss. The storyline is compelling, of that there is no doubt.
Bo Svensson
Svensson is another relatively young manager who has been part of the Red Bull conveyor belt. Jesse Marsch, Julian Nagelsmann and Marco Rose have followed suit down the same path, and Svensson became the latest in the series when he joined Mainz from feeder club FC Liefering almost two years ago.
Winning 42 per cent of his games in charge of the Bundesliga outfit, The 43-year-old has adapted a superb style of play at Mainz, who currently sit 10th in the table. But again, the chance of consistent European endeavours could be enough to swing his decision to Glasgow. It would be some ask to prise away a rising star from the German top flight but Rangers know ambition is needed.
Chris Wilder
Wilder became one of England's hot properties when he led Sheffield United back from their darkest days this side of the century - taking the Blades from mid-table blandness in League One to the top-half of the Premier League in just four years. Admittedly, he has failed to improve upon that since the restart of the Covid era, taking United down before leaving Middlesbrough in the relegation zone earlier this season. Wilder was sacked by the Riverside club last month and is now a free agent.
But with an adventurous style of play that favours direct football, he could use the talents of James Tavernier and Borna Barisic to good effect - whilst also reuniting with John Lundstram - and could prove to be a brilliant appointment to raise Rangers out of their slump. A no-nonsense manager could be just what the Gers need.
Steven Gerrard
They couldn't, could they? The re-appointment of Gerrard would surely divide opinion in Govan, with many believing that the Liverpool legend left the club in the lurch when he suddenly departed for Aston Villa almost a year ago.
Recently sacked by Villans, Gerrard is now back on the managerial scrapheap for the first time since he moved to Glasgow, it's inevitable he will be touted as a candidate to return to the team he led to the Premiership title in 2020/21.
Understandably, club chiefs would be enticed to choose a new direction having only seen Gerrard leave 11 months ago. But with Rangers undergoing somewhat of a tumultuous period, he could offer stability in a move that would see 'tried and tested' rank above 'daring'.
Scott Parker
Parker's sacking from Bournemouth caused shockwaves in the Premier League. He beat Villa on the opening day, and losses to Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool were largely expected, if not for the 9-0 scoreline against the latter. That was enough to tempt Cherries' chiefs to terminate his contract, asking the question of what next for the former West Ham legend.
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 season with Fulham and Bournemouth respectively.
Perhaps fed up of being at the wrong end of the Premier League table, Rangers would offer him a chance to boost his career away from clubs that largely compete with the aim of survival - and just like Gerrard, Parker could show his prowess by replicating the successes of the Liverpool hero by winning multiple trophies, overtaking Celtic and proving his worth in the process. n.
Ralph Hasenhuttl
The Austrian was sacked by Southampton after the combination of new owners and poor form put a target on his back this season. 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. His time on the South Coast was largely successful and the chance to team up wit Hasenhuttl again could prove tempting.
As for Hasenhuttl, he was disappointed to lose his recruitment man to the Glasgow club and would no doubt jump at the chance to work with him once more. He said of Wilson's Southampton exit: 'I liked to work with him, he is a nice and fantastic character, a fantastic personality and I enjoyed every minute with him.
"I wish him all the best. He goes to a famous club to a big club and has a new challenge. It was, I think, about five years here. For us, it is a big loss for sure - but this is what happens in football. For us it will be important that we bring somebody new in and we will do this."
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