Celtic fired warning over Rafa Benitez appointment at Rangers
Rangers have been told they can instantly bridge the gap to fierce rivals Celtic by appointing Rafa Benitez.
Philippe Clement’s sacking at Ibrox last month leaves the Gers on the lookout for a new permanent manager, with Barry Ferguson in charge for the time being.
Benitez recently emerged as a surprise candidate for the Rangers job, alongside the likes of Russell Martin, Steven Gerrard and Kevin Muscat.
While Champions League-winning boss Benitez is not universally backed as a successor for Clement, others believe he would be the ideal choice.
Gordon Dalziel backs Benitez appointment at Rangers
Benitez is said to now be the “preferred candidate” among some behind the scenes at Ibrox.
In the view of former Rangers player and now pundit Dalziel, it would be an appointment that would help put Rangers on a par with Celtic in terms of managerial pedigree.
“I would take [Benitez] all day long,” Dalziel said on the Open Goal podcast [7 March].
“That’s based on everything [he’s done], plus the fact I look at the other side of the city and I look at what they’ve got in Brendan Rodgers.
“I think Rangers need a big character who really believes in himself to go head to head [with Celtic].”
Dalziel went on to add that a left-field appointment could also be possible at Ibrox.
“Rangers might go for a Ted Lasso, if you now what I mean? Bring somebody in who we’ve never heard of,” he added.
Benitez’s CV would make him good fit for Rangers
It is obvious why plenty are not exactly pleased with the news that Benitez is in the running to take charge at Rangers.
The 64-year-old boasts a CV many could only dream of, including a couple of LaLiga titles with Valencia, a Champions League with Liverpool, a Europa League at Chelsea and many more trophies.
At the same time, he – unsurprisingly given his Liverpool links – struggled at Everton and was sacked by Celta Vigo in his most recent job.
| Club | Win percentage |
| Napoli | 52.7% |
| Real Madrid | 68% |
| Newcastle United | 42.5% |
| Dalian Professional | 31.6% |
| Everton | 31.8% |
| Celta Vigo | 27.3% |
There are certainly pros and cons, then, but if nothing else, Benitez will certainly understand the pressure that comes with managing Rangers.
Sure, sacked Southampton boss Martin would be a more modern-day appointment, but he is relatively inexperienced and may take time to get going.
Ultimately, it is likely to be down to 49ers Enterprises with regards to who is appointed. Thanks to Ferguson’s solid work so far, that decision can be delayed until the summer.