Former Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson has spoken candidly about his ambitions to one day take the reins as manager at Ibrox, admitting the pull of the club remains as strong as ever.
Speaking on Premier Sports' Scottish Football Social Club, the 40-year-old opened up about his desire to reach the top of the managerial ladder after witnessing his ex-teammate Barry Ferguson step into the interim role at Rangers over the past six weeks.
“The dream is always to get to the top," Thomson said. "It’s always why you put the hard work in. It’s why, when I got the opportunity to go back to the academy, some people might look and think, ‘Oh, back working with the younger ones — it’s maybe a step back after being a manager.’
"But I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — I would sweep the streets for the club. It means a lot to me, the place."
Thomson, who made over 100 appearances for Rangers between 2007 and 2010 and later returned to work in the club’s youth academy, has remained a loyal servant to the Ibrox cause both on and off the pitch.
His coaching journey has taken him from the club’s youth setup to a successful stint as manager of Kelty Hearts — a role he took on in May 2021 following Ferguson’s departure to Alloa Athletic.
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In his debut season, Thomson guided Kelty to the Scottish League Two title with style before making the shock decision to step down in May 2022.
After some time away from the dugout, he returned to Rangers in February 2025 to support under-18s head coach Steven Smith in developing the next generation of Ibrox talent.
“I’ve always been well appreciated, which is nice,” he added. “I was only there for three and a bit years, then I came back and worked in the academy.
“I’d like to think I represent the club in the right manner. I know there are a million Rangers players who had better careers and better times than I had there, but the fans have always been good to me."
“When Barry got the job, it wasn’t a difficult one for me because I’d already been given a role," he said. "Naturally, these guys want their own people, so whether you are called upon or not, it doesn’t change the fact that my focus is on helping the younger players get better.
“I try to do my job to the best of my ability, and if an opportunity like that was to come along in future, of course you would jump at it. But at the same time, I’m delighted just to be back working for the club.”
It's clear Thomson has lofty ambitions. But, for now, he’s happy laying the foundations — and dreaming of one day leading the Light Blues' first team from the touchline.
