American investment in Rangers via Paraag Marathe and the San Francisco 49ers may be one step in the right direction in terms of closing the gap to Celtic.
But, if Rangers are serious about making a genuine assault on the Premiership title as early as next season, choosing the man to take Philippe Clement’s place in the Ibrox dugout feels like an early challenge the 49ers cannot afford to fail.
Barry Ferguson got the better of Jose Mourinho as Rangers stunned Fenerbahce to put themselves within touching distance of the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday night. As thing stand, however, the Glasgow giants look set to look further afield for a permanent appointment.
Rafa Benitez has been linked with the Ibrox post this week. A Champions League, FA Cup and La Liga winner, and formerly of Chelsea, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Inter Milan, Benitez is comfortably the most high-profile manager mentioned so far.
But, with Benitez now 64 and his reputation having taken a hit on the back of a poor spell at Everton, would the veteran Spaniard really strike fear into Celtic hearts at this stage of his career?
Paul Slane, the former Celtic midfielder and co-host of the Open Goal podcast, would have much greater concerns about a Rangers revival if one of Benitez’s former Stamford Bridge charges was to take over instead.
Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images
Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images
Frank Lampard arrival at Rangers would scare one former Celtic player
Frank Lampard was Graeme Souness’ pick before Clement got the gig in 2023.
If Rangers were to renew their interest two years on – following Lampard’s stunning impact at Coventry City – Slane can envisage a far stronger blue-clad outfit taking to the field next term.
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“Who would give me a slight worry? I think Frank Lampard. I genuinely do,” Slane says, feeling that Rangers would benefit more from a new voice than a return to Glasgow for Steven Gerrard.
“I wouldn’t mind Steven Gerrard back at all. It may be stupid [to say so given he won the league at Ibrox in 2021].”
In addition to the likes of Lampard, Gerrard, Sean Dyche and Derek McInnes, former Schalke coach David Wagner has been mentioned as a more left-field option.
Slane, though, throws another name into the ring.
Kjetil Knutsen has done an ‘incredible job’ with Bodo/Glimt in Norway
Kjetil Knutsen has been linked with the Rangers job before.
And while the 56-year-old Scandinavian has turned down countless offers to lure him away from the Arctic Circle in recent times, Knutsen’s remarkable success in turning Bodo/Glimt into the dominant force of Norwegian football has one former Parkhead player quaking at the mere thought of a similar transformation down the road in Glasgow.
“Do you know who would worry me? The Bodo/Glimt manager,” Slane adds. “What he’s done with that club is just incredible.”
The long-serving Knutsen was appointed by Bodo/Glimt back in 2018. They had never won the league Norwegian league in their history until then but, under Knutsen, went on to claim four Eliteserien crowns in the space of five years.
A three-time Eliteserien Manager of the Year, Knutsen masterminded a 5-1 aggregate win over Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic a couple of years ago.