Credit: Imago

Dakir Thanveer

Fri 7 March 2025 20:40, UK

Jose Mourinho is being heavily linked with the managerial role at Rangers after he left the door open to taking the reins at Ibrox.

Rangers are on cloud nine after earning a 3-1 victory over Fenerbahce in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League Round of 16 tie in Istanbul on Thursday (6 March) to the surprise of many.

Not many expected Barry Ferguson’s side to beat a team managed by Mourinho at their own home, particularly after their 2-1 defeat against Motherwell at Ibrox on Saturday (1 March).

Meanwhile, Mourinho continues to be a topic of discussion in Govan after he revealed he would be open to managing the Glasgow giants ahead of the game in Turkiye.

Mourinho fancies Rangers job

Chris Sutton kept his allegiances towards Celtic aside to opine that he would like to see Mourinho manage Rangers and compete with the Bhoys and he is not the only one dreaming of such a scenario.

Michael Gannon is of the view that the Portuguese tactician would cherish the opportunity to pip the reigning Premiership champions as the Light Blues boss, especially considering his appreciation for Scottish football.

“I think he’s now at a point where is maybe thinking, ‘I’m going to take a few things off my bucket list'”, Gannon said on Daily Record’s Game On show (7 March).

“I know he’s an admirer of Scottish football, he has spoken very highly about it. I think he looks at Glasgow and Celtic and Rangers and thinks, ‘I quite fancy it, that madness would suit me’.

“I think he’d actually fancy something like the challenge at Rangers and think, ‘You know what, I could topple Celtic’, coming from way back.

“I think he might fancy that kind of challenge.”

However, the journalist is unsure if Rangers, or even Celtic for that matter, will be sold on the prospect of having the former Chelsea boss as their manager.

He suggested that the Ibrox outfit will look to go in a different direction once the proposed takeover by a consortium led by Paraag Marathe and Andrew Cavenagh goes through ahead of next season.

“I think he fancies it, but I don’t think the club themselves would be willing to take a bite at that challenge”,

“Celtic, too much of a challenge to deal with him, I think, and they’ve got Brendan Rodgers.

“Rangers maybe are thinking something different in terms of where they are going to go next in terms of building, but it’d be brilliant to see him.”

Ferguson and Co on course for Europa League quarter-finals

Rangers earning a 3-1 victory over Mourinho’s Fenerbahce in Istanbul was nothing short of an upset, especially considering they are helmed by interim manager Ferguson.

However, the tie is not done yet as the Gers are now tasked with defending their two-goal lead by the Turkish giants visit Ibrox in the second leg next Thursday (13 March).

As things stand, the Glasgow giants are on course to book a place in the Europa League quarter-finals – a feat that would solidify Ferguson’s chances of becoming the permanent manager.