Rangers Michael Stewart Barry Ferguson
(Credit: Imago)
Pranav Shahaney
Tue 18 March 2025 7:40, UK
Rangers appear set to be taken over by the San Francisco 49ers and one of the decisions they need to make is on the new manager.
Philippe Clement was sacked by the club before the takeover was finalised after their woeful domestic form.
Barry Ferguson was hired as his replacement, but only on an interim basis until the end of the season.
Philippe Clement
Philippe Clement was sacked by Rangers. (Credit: Imago)
Michael Stewart: Rangers job is Barry Ferguson’s to lose
Michael Stewart has chimed in about his thoughts on the new permanent Gers manager.
He believes that the 49ers will be knowing the kind of manager they want once they complete the takeover.
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They will also be aware of what Ferguson has done and the quick impact he’s had at Ibrox since being given the job.
Stewart told Premier Sports’ YouTube channel on 17 March at 54:16: “Barry Ferguson, I’ve got no doubt, the incoming owners would have in their mind, the type of manager they’re going for.
“Barry Ferguson’s now in interim charge until the end of the season.
“He’s got the platform for him to make the case for him to get it and he’s certainly making the case at the moment.
“He might not end up getting it, but I’ll tell you what, with every passing game, he’s building the case and he’s banging the drum to say: ‘Look, I should be in that conversation’.”
Rafa Benitez would make a lot more sense than Barry Ferguson
Rafa Benitez would make far more sense than Ferguson for Rangers’ permanent managerial role due to his extensive experience, tactical acumen and proven success at elite levels, contrasting sharply with Ferguson’s limited managerial credentials.
The Spaniard, a Champions League winner with Liverpool in 2005 and a La Liga champion with Valencia, brings a wealth of high-stakes expertise, having managed clubs like Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Napoli across Europe’s top leagues.
Club Trophies Won
Valencia La Liga x 2, UEFA Super Cup x 1
Liverpool FA Cup x 1, UEFA Champions League x 1, UEFA Super Cup x 1, Community Shield x 1,
Inter Milan Supercoppa Italiana x 1, FIFA Club World Cup x 1
Chelsea UEFA Europa League x 1
Napoli Coppa Italia x 1, Supercoppa Italiana x 1
Newcastle EFL Championship x 1
Rafa Benitez has a track record for winning trophies.
His pragmatic, defensively solid approach could stabilise Rangers after Clement’s inconsistent tenure, while his ability to maximise squads, evident in Newcastle’s Premier League survival, suits a club needing to punch above their weight against Celtic.
Ferguson, a Rangers legend as a player, lacks comparable managerial pedigree as his stints at Clyde and Alloa Athletic yielded modest results, and he’s untested at a club of Rangers’ stature full time.
Benitez’s global reputation could attract better talent and command respect in the dressing room, crucial for a title challenge, whereas Ferguson’s appointment risks being a sentimental gamble, leaning on nostalgia rather than substance.
With Rangers needing a reset after Celtic’s dominance, Benitez’s track record of delivering trophies and structure trumps Ferguson’s unproven potential, making him the smarter, safer choice.
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