Rangers board ‘given Kevin Muscat answer’ as Ibrox sack nears
Kevin Muscat has spoken out on his own future amid new suggestions he could be in the running to replace Philippe Clement at Rangers.
The former Gers midfielder, who spent one season at Ibrox as a player in 2002/03, has routinely been linked with succeeding Clement in the dugout, having been interviewed for the role back in 2023.
Muscat was overlooked for Clement following Michael Beale’s dismissal in Govan, but the Belgian is now right on the brink of the sack following his side’s shock Scottish Cup loss to Queen’s Park on Sunday.
With Clement’s dismissal looking increasingly likely and a parting of the ways inevitable at the end of the season, it remains to be seen if the hierarchy would turn to Muscat again as a possible replacement.
Any remaining goodwill for Clement now feels light years away, but Muscat’s latest comments ahead of the Chinese Super League season suggest that he’s yet to be considered if and when the axe is swung.
Kevin Muscat appears to address Rangers links
Speaking on The Rush Hour, an Australian radio show, Muscat made clear that his sole focus is on the season ahead for Shanghai Port, having won a league and cup double with the Chinese side last season.
In quotes reported by The Daily Record (10 February), Muscat said: “It’s nice to be back training. The off-season has been fruitful for us.
“Our principles and idea of football is what we believe in – this will remain constant on our journey.
“We want to give players the chance to attack at every opportunity. We will strive to put as much pressure on the opponent as possible because this is what we believe in.”
“[It’s] the first time the club have finished with a double in the league and cup, in the same season. So things are going really good.”
Rangers could do much worse than Kevin Muscat appointment
Muscat is clearly focused on his current task at hand and has said it himself – things are going “really good”.
The 51-year-old has already managed in four countries, reaping great success in Australia, Japan and China, while his Covid-disrupted spell at Sint-Truidense also gave him a flavour of European football.
Furthermore, that success has also come at a more sustained rate than Clement had managed before heading to Ibrox, lifting eight pieces of silverware across 2015, 2018, and in each of the last three years.
Although Clement did lift the Scottish League Cup a few weeks into his Rangers tenure, the Belgian has so far failed to prove he can be successful outside of his home country, also being sacked by Monaco.
Although Bears fans won’t be happy with the comparison, it’s worth contemplating that so far in his career, Muscat’s path mirrors the successful global tour embarked upon by a certain Ange Postecoglou.
Muscat leaving Shanghai Port anytime soon looks unlikely, but if Gers push the button on Clement’s exit and make him their top target, he could be their answer to Postecoglou’s success on the other side of Glasgow.