Rafa Benitez ‘in mix for Rangers job’ as new talks update shared
Rangers could launch an ambitious bid to make Champions League winner Rafael Benitez their new permanent manager.
Barry Ferguson is currently in interim charge of Rangers after the sacking of Philippe Clement on 23 February, leading a team of fellow Ibrox legends including Alan McGregor, Billy Dodds and Neil McCann.
Clement’s dismissal came following home defeats to Queen’s Park and St Mirren in the Scottish Cup and Premiership respectively, and Ferguson continued that trend by losing 2-1 to Motherwell at Ibrox.
Rangers did impress in the Europa League under Clement, though, and with that competition now the only trophy they can win, the Gers are keen to bring in a manager with high European pedigree in the summer.
Rafa Benitez ‘considered’ by incoming Rangers owners
Regardless of how Rangers perform for what remains of the current season, it appears unlikely that Ferguson will be given the job full-time; particularly with 49ers Enterprises set to come on board.
| Club | Honours won |
| Valencia | La Liga 2001-02, 2003-04; 2004 UEFA Cup |
| Liverpool | 2005 Champions League; 2005 UEFA Super Cup; 2006 FA Cup; 2006 Community Shield; |
| Inter Milan | 2010 Supercoppa Italiana; 2010 World Cup Cup |
| Chelsea | 2013 Europa League |
| Napoli | 2014 Coppa Italia; 2014 Supercoppa Italiana |
| Newcastle | 2016-17 EFL Championship |
The Daily Record reported on 5 March that the incoming consortium set to take charge at Ibrox are “considering” hiring former Liverpool and Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez as Rangers’ new boss.
The same report suggested that Paraag Marathe and Andrew Cavenagh are hoping to begin talks with Rangers managerial candidates in the coming weeks.
Rangers can convince Rafa Benitez to make Ibrox move
Although Benitez is currently holding out for a chance to return to the Premier League, a move north to Rangers could be exactly what he needs to rebuild his reputation and potentially win some silverware.
Despite winning LaLiga twice at Valencia and lifting the Champions League with Liverpool back in 2005, Benitez has also had his fair share of disappointing spells across a managerial career spanning 32 years.
Even in England, where his tenures at Liverpool and Newcastle were qualified successes, he proved hugely unpopular during an interim spell in charge of Chelsea and was also sacked by Everton in 2022.
Having also been ditched by Celta Vigo almost a year ago, it’s difficult to see Benitez getting a top-flight job in England any time soon, yet taking charge of Rangers can make him a household name once again.
The 49ers are keen to reinstill a winning culture at Ibrox which has long since been lost to Celtic, and by bringing in a manager who wants to get back to the top, bringing a Premiership title back to the blue half of Glasgow would surely appeal to Benitez.