Latest news with #KevinMuscat
Daily Record
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Kevin Muscat still meets Rangers next manager criteria as takeover kings hear exactly what unflinching boss craves
The former Ibrox midfielder has long been linked with the hot seat - but could finally jet in this summer Shanghai Port boss Kevin Muscat has laid out his perfect football environment amid speculation he could storm back onto the Rangers agenda. The Australian had been touted as one of the early favourites to replace Philippe Clement permanently. But off the back of league and cup double in China speculation cooled over a potential appointment by the incoming US consortium in the summer. Pressure is on Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises to get it right when they take control at Ibrox - with the new season set to start for the Light Blues in July with Champions League qualifiers. Steven Gerrard is reportedly being considered on the longlist of candidates - with Russell Martin, Rob Edwards and Gary O'Neil also named as potential candidates. But it is noted that foreign candidates are also on the agenda - which also opens the door for former Light Blues' midfielder Muscat. He was interviewed for the Rangers job after Michael Beale was axed following two successful seasons with Yokohama F. Marinos - but the decision-makers at Ibrox opted to go with Clement. And the boss has made it clear that he needs people behind the scenes who buy into his all-out attacking style of play - just like in Shanghai Speaking to Bruce, Muscat said: "Winning trophies is one thing, but the football allowed us to do that. "The great thing about being here is, yes, success is demanded not only from the club, but from the fans. That expectation has grown, especially considering last season. "But working with the people in this club who have a genuine belief and a genuine enjoyment for the way we play - that's the environment I like to be in, if I'm honest as well. "There's a genuine willingness and effort, and desire to win things and that expectation is on us once again this year." And he has dropped a hint on what his football philosophy would look like should he take it to the blue half of Glasgow. Discussing the changes he put in place at Port, the gaffer said: "If you arrive somewhere and you've got a belief and a real strong desire to do something, it grows on people and that's what happened here. "They could sense the belief in what we were trying to do and what we wanted to do, and that became infectious. "You have to learn it wherever you go, but you understand that it's you (who) has to make sacrifices culturally, because you are coming into an environment - and of course you have your certain beliefs and your non-negotiables because to play the way we play you have to train a certain way. "But then understanding where everyone sits culturally we have had to adapt. "Certainly, when we got here we had to adapt the way we train because it was so different to what the group was used to."
Reuters
10-03-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Serial winner Muscat focused on titles as Shanghai Port aim to overturn deficit
YOKOHAMA, Japan, March 10 (Reuters) - Shanghai Port head coach Kevin Muscat says he remains driven by the desire to win titles as he attempts to lead the Chinese Super League champions into the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League Elite. Muscat's side trail 1-0 to his former club, Japan's Yokohama F Marinos, ahead of the second leg of their last 16 encounter at International Stadium on Tuesday, and the Australian is determined to continue adding trophies to his glittering resume. "In 30-odd years of being a professional I have learnt that there's only one thing that matters," Muscat told reporters. "There's only one thing that I put all my energy into at this moment in time, and that's giving the players everything they possibly need to perform well enough to win a game of football. "It's in my genes, it's in my DNA to want to win titles. That's something that cannot be decided tomorrow night but, in the long term, performances are what wins titles and what wins trophies. "All the focus goes into performance. It's great to be back to see so many familiar faces, even in this room, but all my energy will be placed on performing well enough to win tomorrow night." Muscat has already won league titles in three different leagues, leading Melbourne Victory to the A-League championship in 2015 and 2018 before winning the J-League title with Marinos in 2022 and the Japanese Super Cup the following year. He then completed the Chinese Super League and FA Cup double last year in his first season with Shanghai Port. Continental success, however, has eluded him with none of his teams reaching the final of Asia's leading club competition. "I spent two-and-a-half wonderful years here, winning two titles, going to Shanghai and winning another title, so it's not a matter of trying to prove to myself," said Muscat. "It's a matter of continuing on the work that we have done in the last 12 months, continuing that work and that progress with a wonderful group of people that are willing to sacrifice and willing to progress. "At this point in time, our performances in the Asian Champions League have improved slightly but it's not the finished product from us. "We strongly believe when we reviewed the game that we created multiple chances in the last game. "Some things didn't go our way and tomorrow's another opportunity for us to perform well on a big stage away from home to get the recognition that the players deserve."
BBC News
05-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Benitez on Rangers radar
The San Francisco 49ers-backed consortium poised to take over Rangers is considering Rafael Benitez as the next permanent manager at Ibrox. (Daily Record)Kevin Muscat has also been linked with Rangers but he has reiterated his commitment to Shanghai Port with the club on the brink of exiting the Asian Champions League. (Daily Record)Mystery still surrounds Ryan Kent's departure from Fenerbahce in Istanbul nearly five months after the former Rangers winger had his contract with the Turkish club terminated by mutual consent. (The Herald)Queen's Park boss Callum Davidson plans to use on-loan Rangers defender Leon King as a central midfielder between now and the end of the season. (Scottish Sun)Read the rest of Wednesday's gossip.
