Rangers manager search: Philippe Clement or Kevin Muscat to be named Ibrox boss after final talks
Sky Sports News It appears that Rangers will appoint either Philippe Clement or Kevin Muscat as their new manager in the next 24 hours.
After in-depth interviews with several candidates this week, CEO James Bisgrove and President John Bennett have had final discussions with both candidates and are closing in on a preferred candidate.
Clement or Muscat will replace Michael Beale just two weeks after the 43-year-old was sacked following a third league defeat in seven games as Aberdeen won 3-1 at Ibrox.
Rangers chairman John Bennett (left) and CEO James Bisgrove (right) are set to appoint a new manager
Steven Davis was appointed caretaker manager and following their defeat to Aris Limassol in Europe, he led the team to a 3–0 victory over previously unbeaten St Mirren, leaving Rangers second in the Scottish Premiership, seven points behind of Celtic.
The new manager will meet his team at the Rangers training center on Monday and then prepare for his first match in the Ibrox dugout when Rangers host Hibernian next Saturday.
Former Club Brugge, Genk and Monaco boss Clément won three consecutive Belgian Pro League titles before a short spell at Monaco and is now a free agent – but has been linked with other jobs.
Clement has also been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia
Muscat – who won a domestic treble as a player at Ibrox in 2003 – has also impressed as a coach, winning the A-League title when in charge of Melbourne Victory and winning the J-League to current club Yokohama F. Marinos.
Rangers have whittled down a lengthy shortlist that has been in place for months, as part of the club’s succession planning process, as they prepare to appoint the 19th permanent manager in the club’s history.
Muscat won the league title as a coach in Australia and at current club Yokohama F. Marinos.
The latest appointment will be Rangers’ fourth different manager in the space of two years, following Steven Gerrard’s move to Aston Villa in 2021 and the subsequent dismissals of Giovanni van Bronckhorst and then Beale.
Boyd: Rangers need new manager now
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Kris Boyd and Chris Sutton discuss Rangers’ win over St Mirren under caretaker boss Steven Davis and the need to move quickly to appoint a new manager
Speaking on Sky Sports after Rangers’ 3-0 win at St Mirren before the international break, former Gers striker Kris Boyd said:
“Rangers need someone now. Yes, there was a backlash against St Mirren but there is now a two-week break and Rangers need to find someone as soon as possible to give them time to work with the players.
“Steven Davis won’t be the manager of the football club, but Rangers need to find someone in that environment where if the next manager comes and goes it’s not a problem. entire again and there is no one left at the club who can simply play a role.
“It’s been forced on Steven Davis, it can be difficult to just add in. Rangers need to have someone who is the club’s man in the next management team, to be able to do that if necessary.
“It’s not going to be an easy job that you get into. I don’t see much there in terms of valuable players to go to to recoup some money and try to acquire their own players.
“You’re looking for someone to come and steady the ship but, at the same time, they need to start improving.
“I always think that as soon as a club appoints their manager, they should look for the next one.
“If the results don’t go well, you’re going to lose your manager, and if the results go well, you’re going to lose your manager to a bigger club. That’s just the nature of football.
“You should always plan for the future.”
Rangers’ next five matches
21st of October : Hibernian (h), Scottish Premiership, kick-off 3pm
October 26: Sparta Prague (a), Europa League, kick-off at 5:45 p.m.
October 29: Hearts (h), Scottish Premiership, kick-off 3pm
November, 1st: Dundee (a), Scottish Premiership, kick-off 7:45 p.m.
November 5: Hearts (n), League Cup semi-final, 3 p.m.
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