49ers Enterprises chief Paraag Marathe is bidding to buy Rangers.
(Credit: Imago)
Danny Wright
Mon 12 May 2025 13:10, UK
Rangers fans haven’t had a lot to smile about this season.
Celtic are one win away from sealing the domestic treble, Philippe Clement’s tenure as manager ended horribly, Barry Ferguson has overseen the club’s worst home run in history and at the start of the season, the team wasn’t even able to play their home games at Ibrox.
Rangers fans don’t really need reminding of all that but what they do need to realise is that the future is starting to look a lot brighter with 49ers Enterprises and Andrew Cavenagh buying into the Ibrox giants.
The US consortium’s takeover is widely reported to be close to completion, so close that changes are already being enacted from across the Atlantic, with Kevin Thelwell arriving from Everton as their new sporting director.
Departing Everton director of football, Kevin Thelwell
Thelwell has a huge job ahead of him at Rangers. (Credit: Imago)
Rangers make offer to hire Davide Ancelotti as new manager
Thelwell hasn’t wasted any time in trying to sort out the number one issue at Rangers too – who is going to be the next full-time manager at Ibrox?
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Ferguson and Thelwell have already held talks about the managerial vacancy, and while nothing has been confirmed at this stage, Ferguson’s rotten run in interim charge is unlikely to see him involved at all at Ibrox come pre-season.
Several names have been linked with being Rangers’ next manager, with Real Madrid assistant coach Davide Ancelotti the latest to emerge as being in the running.
Sky Sports Italy journalist Gianluca Di Marzio reported via his website on Sunday (11 May) that the Light Blues are now pushing to hire the 35-year-old as their new manager.
It is understood that Serie A club Como are also keen on hiring Carlo Ancelotti’s son with Bayer Leverkusen eyeing up Cesc Fabregas as a replacement for Xabi Alonso.
Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport also reported on 11 May (page 24) that an offer has actually been made to Davide Ancelotti to be the new Rangers manager.
Rangers are eyeing up Real Madrid coach Davide Ancelotti
Could Ancelotti be the next Rangers manager? (Credit: Imago)
49ers and Cavenagh to treat Rangers fans to left-field hire
Ancelotti is obviously a rookie when it comes to management.
However, he just happens to be the son of one of the greatest football managers of all time and has worked closely alongside him at Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton and Real Madrid.
Some might talk about nepotism, but Ancelotti’s CV isn’t one to scoff at, with the Parma-born former AC Milan midfielder receiving his UEFA A License, finishing top of his class, in 2016 when he was only 26 years old.
In 2023, he received his UEFA Pro License in Wales and a year later, he was dubbed as Carlo Ancelotti’s “secret weapon” by BBC Sport columnist Mina Rzouki, who credited Davide with masterminding Real Madrid’s Champions League semi-final win over Bayern Munich.
League Domestic Cups Champions League
Bayern Munich 1 2 0
Real Madrid 2 3 2
Davide Ancelotti’s trophy haul working alongside his father
“Davide realised the team needed more presence in the box, a player to split the defenders’ attention. He looked to Joselu, a player with a tall frame and striker’s instinct,” said Rzouki.
“The former Stoke and Newcastle forward had come to Real on a season’s loan from second division Espanyol. Not many would have picked him out as the player to produce some late brilliance. But as a frustrated Ancelotti senior turned to his son on the bench, Davide made his point: “Joselu dai.” Dai, an Italian term, means ‘come on’.
“Carlo relented and told the striker to warm up. Thrown on in the 81st minute, Joselu capitalised on a Manuel Neuer error to equalise and followed it up with a quick second to send the Spaniards to yet another Champions League final. Ten minutes, two goals. The power of one substitution.”
At Leeds, 49ers Enterprises have only made one management hire since becoming full owners of the club and that was to hire Championship promotion expert Daniel Farke – hardly a left-field pick.
But at Rangers, there’s more scope to have a try at something fresh and new.
It was done at Ibrox, not too long ago, when Steven Gerrard arrived without any managerial experience and nowhere near the coaching experience that Davide Ancelotti has.
Gerrard remains the most successful manager Rangers have had since the legendary Walter Smith left in 2011.
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