Rangers are eyeing a new managerial target who could bring their traditional front two back to Ibrox.
It looked almost certain that it was Steven Gerrard. The Liverpool legend told Rio Ferdinand all about his desire to return as manager, leading to talks with Rangers, but the search for a manager will continue even after his departure. Back to the drawing board, Kevin Thelwell’s miserable start at Ibrox doesn’t look like it’s going to end any time soon, and his position as sporting director is already in doubt.
The big question is where the Rangers go from here. The likes of Danny Rolle have already been mentioned as potential replacements after their main candidate rejected them.
The former Sheffield Wednesday manager occasionally worked miracles in his last role, although off the pitch his resources were limited and things were often chaotic. Now, the Rangers could be wooing him for his next coaching job.
The German was a candidate even before Rangers decided to hire Martin in the summer, so they should know all about his expertise. However, it remains to be seen whether the Gers will choose to pivot to the 36-year-old in the current situation.
The last thing the 49ers want is for their second stint to be as bad as their first. Rohr is a manager full of potential, but Rangers have to steady the ship first and foremost, which could see them go in a different direction. If that turns out to be the case, the vacant seat could be filled by a new name.
Rafael Wicki joins Rangers shortlist
As reported by TeamTalk, Rangers are currently considering a move for Rafael Wicki. The 48-year-old, who is 12 years older than Rolle, most recently coached Young Boys from 2022 to 2024, maintaining a goals-per-game record of 1.97. This stands out as his most memorable role, considering he became Swiss champion and cup winner during his time at the club.
The appointment of Wicky, who is around Gerrard’s age and a league winner like the former Liverpool man, makes perfect sense and, according to Transfermarkt, will bring a 4-4-2 formation to Ibrox with slight adjustments to the diamond-shaped midfield.
There will be a sense of the unknown, but it’s the same kind of thing Rangers probably felt when they hired the inexperienced Gerrard in 2019, before winning the Scottish Premiership at Ibrox in 2021.
As for Wicky’s system, Rangers are expected to start with two out-and-out strikers under the Swiss manager, with Bojan Miovski and Youssef Cermiti both likely to start as Gers look to finally get their attack firing on all cylinders.
So while Wicky doesn’t stand out as the most well-known option, he’s definitely an interesting candidate. He’s still developing his trade, but he doesn’t lack experience as a title contender, which should give the 49ers something to consider.