Rangers seal arrival of Englishman from Sheffield Wednesday
Russell Martin has made moves to shore up his backroom staff at Rangers as he’s set to begin his first season there.
After a disappointing campaign at Southampton, which saw him get sacked mid-season, he will be looking to get off to a fresh start at Ibrox.
Max Aarons has joined from Bournemouth on loan and there are expected to be more players to sign in the coming weeks.
Sal Bibbo seals Sheffield Wednesday exit to join Martin’s staff
According to Rangers Review (2 July), there has been a new addition to Martin’s coaching staff at Gers.
Sal Bibbo has left Sheffield Wednesday, with his contract expiring, in order to seal a move to Glasgow.
| Club & Role | Appointed | In Charge Until |
|---|---|---|
| Sheffield Wednesday (Goalkeeping Coach) | 23/24 (Nov 21, 2023) | – |
| Brighton & Hove Albion U23 (Goalkeeping Coach) | 21/22 (Jul 1, 2021) | 23/24 (Nov 20, 2023) |
| Arsenal FC (Goalkeeping Coach) | 17/18 (Jul 1, 2017) | 20/21 (Aug 28, 2020) |
| Nike Academy (Goalkeeping Coach) | 10/11 (Jul 1, 2010) | 12/13 (Jun 30, 2013) |
| Reading FC (Goalkeeping Coach) | 06/07 (Jul 1, 2006) | 14/15 (May 22, 2015) |
The Englishman has enjoyed stints at Arsenal and Brighton as well, where he was the goalkeeping coach, working with the youngsters at Brighton.
He is expected to perform a similar role at Ibrox now that he has completed his move to the Scottish club.
Jack Butland should benefit from Bibbo’s arrival at Rangers
To maximise Jack Butland’s potential, Bibbo must focus on refining his technical and mental attributes while leveraging his experience.
The former Crystal Palace keeper, with over 200 Premier League appearances and nine England caps, excels in shot-stopping and distribution, but has struggled with his distribution.
Bibbo should tailor training to enhance Butland’s command of the box, particularly in set-piece situations, to counter physical Scottish Premiership forwards.
Drills emphasising quick reflexes and one-on-one scenarios will maintain his edge.
Mentally, Bibbo must foster confidence through regular feedback, ensuring Butland remains a vocal leader for Rangers’ defence.
Integrating data-driven analysis of opponents’ shooting patterns will help Butland anticipate attacks.
By building trust and fine-tuning these areas, Bibbo can elevate Butland’s performances, solidifying Rangers’ backline.
Sign up for the Ibrox News WhatsApp channel and turn on notifications to have all the latest, breaking Rangers news sent straight to your phone.