Issame Charai could quit Rangers for manager job days after Martin appointment
Rangers assistant manager Issame Charai’s future is uncertain.
The new majority ownership, comprised of the 49ers Enterprises group and the ParetoHealth chief, Andrew Cavenagh, are already making significant changes.
Russell Martin has been appointed as the new permanent manager after Barry Ferguson left his interim post at the end of the season.
The former Southampton man will likely want to bring his own coaches to Govan with him, which could leave the 43-year-old’s position in major doubt.
Rangers set lose Charai in new twist
Charai was brought in at Auchenhowie towards the end of the Philippe Clement era and remained in his position in Ferguson’s brief reign.
His appointment was not associated with Clement, and he was brought in by the Gers to provide a different perspective on tactical ideas.
However, Belgian journalist David Van den Broeck (7 June) now reports that the Gers coach is a contender for the Westerlo job if the current incumbent is sacked.
Charai was reportedly in contention for the Beerschot job with former Liverpool man Dirk Kuyt under rising pressure with the Belgian outfit.
Charai unlikely to have a future at Rangers
It is difficult to see Charai remaining at Rangers, given the fact that he is being touted for managerial roles elsewhere.
Another factor is the fact that Martin will be keen to implement his people in Govan and may want to get rid of any remnants of the dismal campaign last time out under both Clement and Ferguson.
| Club | Role | Time Spent |
| Al Faisaly | Assistant manager | 2012-13 |
| Al Faisaly | Caretaker manager | 2013 |
| Beerschot | Assistant manager | 2016-18 |
| Sint-Truidense | Assistant manager | 2018-19 |
| Oud-Heverlee Leuven | Assistant manager | 2020-22 |
| Morocco Under-23s | Manager | 2022-24 |
| Rangers | Assistant manager | 2025-present |
The 39-year-old faces a tough task to turn things around at Ibrox and catch arch-rivals Celtic in the Scottish Premiership after the Light Blues finished 17 points behind their Glasgow foes.
It promises to be a huge summer for the Gers both on and off the pitch, but whether the Belgian-Moroccan coach will be a part of that remains to be seen, given the significant interest in his services.
He is less than a year into the three-and-a-half-year deal that he signed in January, so the Light Blues would likely be due a decent compensation fee if he were to depart.