‘Absolute box office' – former Rangers star shares his pick of the favourites to land Ibrox manager role

Scottish Sun

06-05-2025

A former Gers manager, ex-player, and recent rival are all in contention
BEST BET 'Absolute box office' – former Rangers star shares his pick of the favourites to land Ibrox manager role
QUESTION marks still remain over the future of the role of manager at Ibrox.
Rangers are still with interim boss Barry Ferguson and his temporary team, but with big changes impending thanks to a summer takeover it's uncertain whether he'll stay on.
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Interim Rangers boss Barry Ferguson's future remains uncertain
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Steven Gerrard remains the bookie's favourite to return to the dugout
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Gers hero Alan Hutton has shared his 'box office' pick
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He has picked up big results against Celtic and in the Europa League but has struggled and led several - as old teammate Steven Thompson put it - 'inept' performances.
With the odds ever shifting on who the next gaffer will be, a former Gers ace has shared his thoughts on who he'd prefer in the dugout.
Alan Hutton played in blue between 2002 and 2008 after he came through the youth ranks in Glasgow, meaning he played alongside Fergie many times.
Previous Rangers manager Steven Gerrard remains the bookies favourite and Hutton previously called him the 'safer choice', having already won a Premiership title in 2021.
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He still backs the Liverpool legend to some extent, but has now talked up his ambitious 'box office' pick amongst other potential options.
Though he's slipped down the favourites list slightly, managerial icon Jose Mourinho's name entered the discussion when he refused to rule out a spell in Glasgow.
Ferguson's Gers took on Mourinho's Fenerbahce in the Europa League with the Ibrox side progressing on penalties back in March.
On the former Manchester United, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter Milan boss, Hutton said to BoyleSports: "Jose Mourinho at Rangers would be absolute box office, I'm sure of it.
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"He was asked the question when Rangers played Fenerbahce, and he didn't say no. It seemed like he would quite like and fancy something like that. So it would be interesting.
"I think for a guy of his experience and quality to come in, it's probably something that Rangers need at this moment in time because they're going to go through, I feel, a big rebuild, especially with the takeover that's happening and the changes behind the scenes.
Barry Ferguson is on the brink of erupting at his Rangers squad
"You need somebody with that experience that can deal with those sorts of pressures and maintain what they need to do against obviously Celtic and the rest of the league.
"So it would be brilliant to see. I'd love to see his press conferences from week to week, I'm sure it'd be fun."
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But as things stand the bookies are tipping Gerrard or ex-RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund man Marco Rose ahead of the rest.
The 50-time Scotland cap thinks Rose has a unique selling point, but ultimately is not his choice.
He said: "Marco Rose has been mentioned in recent weeks. I think he's got a wealth of experience.
"He's got a background working with RB Leipzig and Salzburg and they've kind of linked with the 49ers enterprise. So that could be something that could be looked at as well.
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"But you need an experienced manager to go in and deal with the situation. There's a lot going on at the club.
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Ferguson and Hutton were teammates for club and country
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The legendary Jose Mourinho's name has been floated
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Marco Rose is the bookie's second choice
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Former Ger Russell Martin is also in the mix
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"There's going to be a lot of changes within the playing squad and the backroom staff. So to be able to deal with that and deal with Celtic and their dominance, you need experience.
"Steven Gerrard's been there, he's done it, he's won the league there, he knows what it takes, he knows the pressure that he'll be under.
"Whether he fancies coming back or not, we'll have to wait and see, but there are a number of decent candidates out there that we'll be looking at."
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The final name put to him was a one-time Gers player in the form of Russell Martin, who is tipped at the same odds as the Portuguese legend.
In December Martin was sacked from Southampton after picking up one win in 16 league matches, who have since been relegated from the Premier League comfortably in last place.
His ex-Scotland teammate Hutton said: "The big thing for me is the style of play, Russell Martin has shown that at MK Dons as well, where he started and then moved on to Swansea and Southampton.
"It didn't quite work in the Premier League because it's a different animal and the way he plays open and expansive at times, especially when you're a smaller club in terms of the Premier League, it might not quite work for you.
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"I think there's always a risk, whatever manager you bring in, but he's young, he's hungry, he wants to do well. I think it could work with his style.
"I think the fans would definitely take to it. But look, we're going to have to wait and see.
"After the takeover, they'll then decide. So like I said, there's going to be a lot of change in the upcoming months."
Next Rangers manager odds
Accurate to bet365 as of 6/5/2025 Steven Gerrard 4/7
Marco Rose 7/2
Barry Ferguson 10/1
Rafa Benitez 10/1
Sean Dyche 12/1
Edin Terzic 16/1
Danny Rohl 20/1
Jose Mourinho 20/1
Russell Martin 20/1
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