Rangers ‘given Rafa Benitez answer’ as 49ers’ Ibrox plans laid out
49ers Enterprises are already putting plans in place for a new at Ibrox, with a new managerial appointment clearly a top priority.
After Philippe Clement’s departure from the club, Barry Ferguson was handed the managerial role on an interim basis until the end of the season.
However, the new owners will be looking at more ambitious names to take over on a permanent basis, with Rafa Benitez already thrown into the mix.
Benitez sets out his managerial aims
The 49ers have laid out their plans to find a new long-term manager to join them at Ibrox and are already considering options in the hope of starting talks in the coming weeks, to be ready for the new season.
Benitez is one name that has been mentioned in connection with the job, with Jeff Stelling and Ally McCoist discussing the potential appointment on talkSPORT.
This would certainly be a sign of more ambitious things to come under new ownership as he is someone who has managed at the top level, winning the Champions League along the way.
However, Benitez is unlikely to want to take on the job if it is indeed offered to him.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo on 1 March, he said: “I have had a lot of offers during the year. But I was always waiting for the Premier League because it’s the league that I like. You have to choose the right opportunity and hopefully it will come soon.”
Therefore, it seems as though the Spaniard may not be up for a move to Scotland and instead, is holding out for a top-flight job in England.
On that basis, it surely makes sense for the 49ers to proceed with the other names on their list.
Rangers will be ambitious under 49ers
Benitez being one of the first big names linked with the Rangers job is definitely a sign of what’s to come for supporters under new ownership, even if some will still be slightly underwhelmed.
If a deal could be struck, there is no doubt that a manager of this level would be able to help to turn things around in Glasgow and push the Gers back up to the levels they should be performing at.
| Club | Win percentage |
| Napoli | 52.7% |
| Real Madrid | 68% |
| Newcastle United | 42.5% |
| Dalian Professional | 31.6% |
| Everton | 31.8% |
| Celta Vigo | 27.3% |
However, if the manager has got his heart set on other opportunities, there is no point trying to chase this one with plenty of other options out there.
Although things have been difficult at Ibrox for some time now, both on and off the pitch, taking on a role at Rangers under new ownership could be an exciting opportunity to be the part of a new and progressive era.
That being said, a big-name appointment will only work if they are fully committed to the role too, and the 49ers therefore have to be ready to look at all the options available.
Supporters can certainly get excited about what might be ahead of them in the near future, but there are bound to be plenty of big names mentioned that never come to fruition before a new boss is chosen.