Aheed Abrar

Wed 14 May 2025 18:10, UK

Rangers have been all over the news lately, with Real Madrid’s assistant coach Davide Ancelotti a managerial candidate at Ibrox.

Barry Ferguson may soon be leaving after replacing Philippe Clement midway through the season, and the Gers are searching for a new permanent head coach.

Ancelotti is strongly linked with a move to Ibrox to take charge of the Light Blues ahead of the upcoming campaign, but it remains to be seen what his future holds.

While the Italian coach seems like the leading candidate to take over from Ferguson, there may be more to it than meets the eye.

Rangers preferred manager candidate not set as Ancelotti news rubbished

A preferred candidate for the Galaswegian outfit’s managerial role hasn’t been set, Keith Jackson says.

The Daily Record journalist made phone calls after really weird and strange news about Ancelotti’s switch to Ibrox being a done deal.

Jackson feels Carlo Ancelotti, Davide’s father, may have helped propagate the recent reports and revealed that the Gers’ process of hiring a new head coach isn’t close to being finalised.

Speaking on Hotline Live (13 May), the journalist said: “[Davide] was linked with Como, Rangers, decent-sized jobs. I felt that Carlo had his fingerprints on it when that information first came out.

“Then last night something really weird happened, when it was almost being presented in some places as a done deal. And that was very strange. And then, when you make phone calls and you find out that actually the process hasn’t got anywhere near the point of having a done deal or a preferred candidate.

“Then you start to wonder why this is coming out and why they are wording it so strongly from the Spanish and Italian end. It’s just raised a few red flags for me. I’m just not sure about it.”

Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises need to appoint new manager soon

Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises’ takeover at the Glaswegian outfit is all but confirmed, and they now need to make some important decisions regarding the future direction of the Gers.

The US consortium seem to have already opted to replace Ferguson at the end of the season, with Gretar Steinsson looking for a new manager at Ibrox.

While Ancelotti has a huge name, his experience in football isn’t as extensive as his father’s.

The 35-year-old started as a fitness coach under Carlo at Paris Saint-Germain and is now being linked with the top job at Rangers.

While Ancelotti has been his father’s assistant manager since their days together at Bayern Munich, he has no experience as a head coach.

Understandably, the Ibrox faithful are raising questions about the Italian national’s suitability to take charge of the Gers.

The Light Blues arguably need someone capable of knocking Celtic off their perch, and Ancelotti’s record so far doesn’t build confidence that he could compete with Brendan Rodgers.

While the prospective new owners should appoint a new manager soon, they must ensure it’s the right appointment.