Latest news with #Koppen
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Pivotal week for Rangers as major activity planned: new manager, backroom upheaval, three players wanted
Koppen set for exit - and players could join him out of Ibrox Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... New Rangers sporting director Kevin Thelwell will take up his position on Monday morning at Ibrox, with a series of big decisions set to be made. Thelwell joins Rangers from Everton, just four days after a consortium led up by Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises purchased the Ibrox club. Their arrival is expected to signal some major changes at the Glasgow club. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Rangers' search for a new head coach is likely to come to a conclusion this week as Cavenagh, who is the new chairman, and Thelwell settle on their preferred candidate. Former boss Steven Gerrard came out of the running last week, with ex-Southampton head coach Russell Martin moving to odds-on favouritism over the weekend ahead of Davide Ancelotti, who remains available after leaving Real Madrid last month. Kevin Thelwell, left, takes up his role as Rangers sporting director on Monday. | Getty Images Rangers are also poised to make a significant move behind the scenes, with reports over the weekend claiming that technical director Nils Koppen will be removed from his position. Koppen was promoted to that role from director of recruitment just six months ago, but it is anticipated that the Belgian - who is credited with bringing the likes of Hamza Igamane, Jefte and Vaclav Cerny to Rangers - will be moved on by the new regime. There is already speculation that Dan Purdy, who worked alongside Thelwell at Everton, will replace him. Another summer of transition therefore awaits Rangers, who return to competitive action in the second round of the Champions League qualifiers on July 22. As well as a new manager, there will be players coming in - as well as some departures. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Rangers trio in demand Three current members of the first-team squad have been linked with transfers over the weekend. Besiktas have been credited with an interest in Turkish left-back Ridvan Yilmaz, while Dutch centre-half Robin Propper has been linked with a return to FC Twente, the club he left a year ago to join Rangers.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXIT KOPPEN: Rangers technical director Nils Koppen is first high-profile departure from Ibrox following US takeover ... with Everton's Dan Purdy set to take his place
Nils Koppen is poised to be the first high-profile departure from Rangers following the completion of the American takeover last week. The Belgian will step down from his role as technical director in the coming days after just 18 months in Glasgow. Kevin Thelwell starts his new job as sporting director on Monday. Dan Purdy is set to fill the role that Koppen will vacate having worked alongside Thelwell at Everton. It's believed that Koppen will remain at Ibrox to help with the transition, but will then move on. The development follows an external review of all of Rangers' football operations, which chief executive Patrick Stewart announced in January. Koppen, who was formerly PSV Eindhoven's head scout, joined the Ibrox club as director of football recruitment under Philippe Clement before moving into his broader role last November. While he was credited with recruiting Hamza Igamane and Vaclav Cerny, there were misgivings about his overall record in the two full transfer windows that he oversaw, with Rangers ultimately finishing the season 17 points behind Celtic. It appears that the responsibility of identifying possible signings will now fall to Purdy. He enjoyed a close working relationship with Thelwell at Goodison Park, where he had a number of analytical and scouting roles. Rangers are now looking to overhaul their playing squad after health tycoon Andrew Cavenagh and his partners from the San Francisco 49ers completed their £75million Ibrox takeover. They immediately pledged to make £20m available to upgrade the first team via the purchase of freshly-issued shares. Thelwell, who has been working behind the scenes, will firstly prioritise securing a new manager. Davide Ancelotti and Russell Martin are the two main contenders. Despite interest from other clubs in Europe, Ancelotti, son of legendary manager Carlo, has told Rangers he is desperate to start his career in management with them. Martin looked set to fall out of the race last week when Leicester City lined him up as a replacement for Ruud van Nistelrooy. However, with the Foxes yet to axe the Dutchman following their relegation from the Premier League, Martin is still very much in contention to succeed Barry Ferguson as manager. Former Ajax boss Francesco Farioli and ex-Feyenoord manager Brian Priske are also in the running but are thought to be very much outsiders.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
First casualty of new regime as high profile departure set to be announced by Rangers as American owners begin rebuild
RANGERS technical director Nils Koppen has seemingly become the first casualty of the new American regime at Ibrox as reports suggest he is to leave the club. The Belgian only assumed the role six months ago being promoted from director of recruitment, which left SunSport columnist Kris Boyd scratching his head at that move. 3 Nils Koppen to leave his post as Rangers technical director Credit: Willie Vass 3 Hamza Igamane scored 16 goals for Rangers last season Credit: Getty 3 Vaclav Cerny has left Rangers after his loan spell came to an end Credit: Willie Vass Koppen oversaw the club's transfer strategy and had overall responsibility for the men's academy, medical, football operations, performance and analysis departments. During his tenure Rangers signed the likes of Hamza Igamane and Vaclav Cerny who have been seen as successes by most supporters. Yet those additions failed to prevent Rangers finishing a huge 17 points behind rivals Celtic in the Scottish Premiership. Fans were also less than impressed with players like Rafael Fernandes who struggled with injury. The former PSV scout is to leave his post as technical director just days after the US Consortium took over the club. Private healthcare tycoon Andrew Cavenagh and the 49ers Enterprises have bought a 51 per cent controlling stake at Rangers and have made £20 million available to begin the summer rebuild at Ibrox. According to the Daily Record, Koppen's departure will be announced on Monday as Kevin Thelwell officially becomes the club's new sporting director. Dan Purdy, who worked alongside Thelwell at Everton, is understood to be Koppen's replacement. The news has been welcomed by fans on social media. One fan said: "Good start by the new owners, clearing out folk not good enough." Rangers fans react as 49ers takeover completed Another added: "Good start to the 49ers era. "Could have survived here in a lesser position but the promotion to technical director mid-season was nearly as bad a decision as Clement's new contract." A third commented: "He was not qualified to do the job he had at Rangers in the first place, let alone the promotion he later received. "Another shambles by the club." A fourth added: "New regime off to a flyer." Meanwhile, Ridvan Yilmaz could be set for return to Turkey with Besiktas understood to be in talks. Robin Propper is another player likely to leave Ibrox this summer - the Dutchman tipped for a return to FC Twente. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
The National
3 days ago
- Business
- The National
Rangers to appoint second ex-Everton man as Koppen departs
Koppen is on his way out of Ibrox as he gets set to step down from his role as technical director days after Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises took a controlling stake in the club. The new owners are looking to restructure things behind the scenes but it's understood the Belgian's exit is not a reflection on the work he has carried out. Koppen's departure will be announced tomorrow and Rangers Review has now delivered the update that Purdy will start work on the same day. It comes with ex-Toffees director of football officially starting as the Light Blues' new sporting director. Read more: Rangers technical director Nils Koppen departs after 18 months Celtic hero not worried by Rangers takeover as he makes 'doesn't matter' claim Koppen initially came in as director of football recruitment from PSV Eindhoven in December 2023 and was later promoted to technical director. He leaves after 18 months at the club but will assist in the short-term with the transition. Purdy previously worked with Thelwell at the Premier League outfit and has already left his post there. Rangers are now expected to make an announcement on their new manager in the coming days, with Russell Martin and Davide Ancelotti frontunners.
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Nils Koppen leaves Rangers amid major club restructure
The Belgian has reportedly stepped down from his role as technical director following the club's recent takeover by American owners. Koppen had joined Ibrox as director of football recruitment before moving into his broader role in November 2024. His tenure saw a mixed record of signings, with "success stories" like Jefte and Hamza Igamane, but the club failed to close the gap on Celtic, which drew criticism from fans. Read more: Celtic hero not worried by Rangers takeover as he makes 'doesn't matter' claim Philippe Clement 'turns down Sparta Prague managerial position' The Daily Record claimed Koppen's departure will be officially announced on Monday alongside Kevin Thelwell's appointment as sporting director. The report also suggested that former manager Barry Ferguson was planning to recommend the removal of Koppen if he had remained in charge. The restructuring comes as the new regime aims to revitalise the club's fortunes, starting with changes behind the scenes.
