Guillem Balague shares what he has heard about Ancelotti and Rangers
Davide Ancelotti appeared to be in the driving seat to take the Rangers job, but all roads are now leading to Russell Martin.
Rangers fans are sceptical over the potential appointment of Martin, who was dismissed by Southampton after one win in 16 Premier League matches last season.
Ancelotti was considered a front-runner for the role after leaving Real Madrid, having served as an assistant to his father Carlo Ancelotti at his last four clubs.
Spanish expert Guillem Balague, who had previously explained why Ancelotti could be a perfect fit at Ibrox, has now revealed that another meeting is set to take place.
Rangers schedule another Ancelotti meeting
Despite Martin being all but set to take the Rangers job, the Ibrox club could still speak to Ancelotti one more time.
Balague has now revealed on X (4 June) that a new meeting is “planned” between Rangers and Ancelotti, but did question the aim of such a meeting if Martin is to take the job.
| Russell Martin’s managerial career | Time spent | Win percentage |
| MK Dons | 2019-21 | 37.5 per cent |
| Swansea City | 2021-23 | 36.36 per cent |
| Southampton | 2023-24 | 45.21 per cent |
Balague shared “the word in Glasgow”, being all about Martin set to take over.
The 49ers Enterprises could make some unpopular decisions as they aim to rebuild following their takeover, and starting with a new manager could be the biggest call of them all.
Rangers make wrong decision over Ancelotti
Ancelotti was said to be keen on taking the Rangers job over interest from elsewhere, and despite his lack of experience as a manager, he is held in high regard at the very top level.
Attracting a big name like Ancelotti, who worked closely with the Real Madrid squad in recent seasons, could have even seen players follow him to Ibrox from the Bernabeu.
Martin is not an appointment that inspires confidence, even if it does make some sense as a former Rangers player and a coach who can implement a possession-dominant style.
The opportunity to hire Martin in the future may still have been a possibility, but if they decline Ancelotti now, they will not get another chance to hire one of the most promising young coaches in Europe.