Exclusive: Rangers in talks to hire ‘astute tactician’ as first manager for 49ers
Rangers are looking to appoint their first manager under the much-anticipated ownership of Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises.
Dave King recently suggested that the takeover at Ibrox is 90 per cent confirmed, with the final formalities left.
With Barry Ferguson taking charge of his final game as interim manager against Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership on 17 May at Easter Road, the prospective new owners have a significant decision to make regarding the next permanent head coach.
Patrick Stewart and Kevin Thelwell are leading the search for a new manager, and one of their candidates is an astute tactician.
49ers look to appoint Real Madrid assistant manager Davide Ancelotti at Rangers
Davide Ancelotti has spoken to the Glaswegian outfit about becoming their permanent head coach [Record Sport].
If the Light Blues do hire the 35-year-old, they’ll be getting someone highly rated within the Madrid circle, Joe Brennan says.
The AS journalist reveals that there’s an expectation that the Italian national is ready to become a manager in his own right, despite solely working under his father, Carlo Ancelotti, over the years.
| Club | Role |
| Paris Saint-Germain | Fitness coach |
| Real Madrid | Fitness coach |
| Bayern Munich | Assistant manager |
| Napoli | Assistant manager |
| Everton | Assistant manager |
| Real Madrid | Assistant manager |
Speaking to Ibrox News, Brennan said: “It’s a curious one with Davide, as he’s got no experience as a number one, having had his first major job with Real Madrid under Carlo. It will be interesting, if it happens, to see what his tactical style is and how he goes about managing the expectations, which are huge at a club like Rangers.
“Having said that, he’s an astute tactician and he is, despite the whiff of potential nepotism, rated highly within the Madrid circle and there’s an expectation that he is ready to take the next step, which is certainly something he wants. He is the main man at Real Madrid training, with Carlo regularly taking a back seat while Davide runs the sessions.
“But he’s not been a manager, and the pressure at Rangers is, as said, huge. It’ll be an intriguing appointment for everyone should it go through, as we simply don’t know his personal approach to playing the game.”
Davide a gamble worth taking at Ibrox
Davide seems to be a serious candidate at Ibrox, and despite accusations of nepotism, the prospective new owners definitely have seen something to consider him.
While the Italian national lacks experience as a first-team head coach, he’s worked in demanding environments at Real Madrid, Napoli and Bayern Munich.
The 35-year-old could be a gamble worth taking for the Gers, as he may have connections to attract some big names to Ibrox.
With the Light Blues playing their final game of the campaign, Stewart and Thelwell will surely expedite appointing a new manager at Rangers.