Davide Ancelotti Rangers
(Credit: Imago)
Rahul Lakhani
Wed 14 May 2025 17:10, UK
Rangers are yet to appoint their next permanent manager, but are reportedly close to securing a key candidate.
49ers Enterprises are set to complete a takeover of the club, which will see them make significant changes from top to bottom.
Rangers will appoint a new manager to replace interim boss Barry Ferguson, and Real Madrid assistant coach Davide Ancelotti now appears to be a front-runner for the role.
The 35-year-old has been assistant manager to his father Carlo Ancelotti at his last four clubs, and if he joins, Rangers will be his first role as head coach, and he may look to the Italian legend for more inspiration.
Davide Ancelotti
Davide Ancelotti could take the Rangers job (Credit: Imago)
What Rangers can expect from Ancelotti
Ancelotti is held in high regard from players who have worked with him, and tactically may follow a similar style to his father.
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However, his character still remains an unknown quantity outside of the clubs he has worked at, and this will be an important factor for him at Real Madrid.
Speaking exclusively to Ibrox News, Football Espana editor Ruairidh Barlow explained what Rangers can expect from Ancelotti as a personality and figurehead of a club for the first time.
Trophy Times Won Seasons won
La Liga 2 2021/22, 2023/24
Champions League 2 2021/22, 2023/24
Copa del Rey 1 2022/23
Super Cup 2 2021/22, 2023/24
Club World Cup 2 2022/23, 2024/25
Ancelotti’s trophies while Real Madrid assistant manager
“In general, it is a bit of a struggle to know what to expect from Davide Ancelotti, as until you do the big job, it’s impossible to know how you’ll handle it,” Barlow explained.
“The second caveat to throw into the mix is that while we’ve seen the odd press appearance, this is mostly a general picture from what we hear in the Spanish capital.
“On the one hand, you rarely hear negative things about an assistant manager, but it is a good sign that he’s been spoken of positively, rather than not mentioned at all.
“Davide is younger, so you can probably expect more energy and intensity than from his father, but no doubt one of things Rangers would hope he’s picked up from his father is how to handle people and the dressing room, and how to ride the pressure.”
Ancelotti would not be the first inexperienced manager Rangers sign (Credit: Imago)
Ancelotti needs fast start at Rangers to win over fanbase
If Ancelotti is appointed, there will be a mixture of excitement and raised eyebrows, given both his profile as well as his lack of experience as a head coach.
He will not be the first rookie to take the Rangers job, as Steven Gerrard was appointed into his first role to great success.
Gerrard won over the fanbase quickly after a strong start, but beyond results, he bought into the identity of Rangers from the get-go, and offered an idea which fans could back despite his lack of experience.
Ancelotti needs to do the same. While his character is still relatively unknown even in Spain, his words will be important in the early stages of his career in Glasgow as he aims to win over a sceptical fanbase in the months leading up to the season.
Bringing in players from Real Madrid could certainly help Ancelotti’s case as he attempts to show why he was targeted to lead a new era at Rangers under the 49ers, and this could be possible given his knowledge of their academy.
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