Ex-Liverpool Academy coach Michael Beale is the current frontrunner to become the new Rangers manager as the Scottish side search for a Giovanni van Bronckhorst replacement.
Beale's route to his current position of Queens Park Rangers boss has been far from orthodox, having spent time serving as an assistant coach for Sao Paulo in 2017 before returning to the Reds to lead coaching for players from under-5s level up to under-11s.
The 42-year-old initially joined Liverpool in 2012, responsible for the under-16s and later the under-23s between the years of 2014 and 2017. In 2018, Beale accepted the role of Steven Gerrard's assistant at Rangers and was part of the journey which saw the Gers end Celtic's dominance to claim a first league title in a decade.
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Beale and Gerrard were reunited at Aston Villa in November of last year, though an opportunity arose for the former to take charge of QPR at the start of this season. Beale turned down an approach from Wolves last month and is in demand once again - this time from one of his former clubs.
The Evening Standard have suggested he is early favourite to take over at Ibrox, though an official approach has reportedly not yet been made. Commenting on the recent speculation surrounding the Bromley-born coach, QPR director of football Les Ferdinand said: “I expected Michael’s name would be mentioned for the role at Rangers because he did such a good job while he was up there working with Steven Gerrard. I don’t want to have to fight to keep anyone at QPR. I want people who want to be here. That’s the only way we can move forward.
“If they want to be somewhere else, that’s what they’re going to do. We’d have to have a conversation. It’s not that I’d be happy to have it but I only want people at the football club who want to be here.”
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