Ally McCoist has been responding to claims from Simon Jordan that Rangers could be making a mistake in appointing Davide Ancelotti.
News broke this week that Ancelotti is leading the race to become Rangers manager as the club braces for an American buyout.
With the US takeover of Rangers edging closer, Real Madrid assistant Davide Ancelotti is viewed as a fresh choice for the Ibrox club.
As legendary father Carlo Ancelotti – who Davide has worked under for the best part of a decade – prepares to move to Brazil, it’s widely believed Davide will make his first foray into management.
But with Simon Jordan questioning Rangers’ decision-making, Ally McCoist has pointed to Old Firm rivals Celtic as a reason why the 35-year-old could be a hit.
Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
Celtic manager proves Carlo Ancelotti can be Rangers success
Simon Jordan had questioned if Davide Ancelotti has the ‘chops’ to topple Celtic as news broke of Rangers’ interest.
The former Crystal Palace owner also suggested there was a ‘hint of nepotism’ attached to Ancelotti’s progress.
But Ally McCoist has bit back at the suggestions and reckons the success of Ange Postecoglou at Celtic proves a relative unknown can deliver in Scotland.
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”Every appointment is a gamble,” McCoist said. “I just think it’s difficult to judge.
”Effectively we don’t know. With the greatest respect, Big Ange coming to Celtic, how many times did we play that piece? And then he was massive success.
”I get what Simon’s saying. From his point of view it’s sometimes better to go with somebody who has a bit of history, a bit of background, so you know.
”But there’s other times, how do you get your opportunity? Simon’s point is you get experienced by going to a smaller club, I take that. My argument against it would be that he’s been with his dad for so long.”
Later McCoist would finish the interview by saying: “I’ve got hope/confidence (in Ancelotti), always.”
Ally McCoist hints Barry Ferguson could stay, cites Bayern Munich example
Ally McCoist reckons that there is a chance Barry Ferguson remains at Rangers even if Davide Ancelotti is appointed.
The Rangers legend reckons it’s a safe bet to have familiar faces around the club so incoming players and ownership understand the Ibrox DNA.
McCoist points to Bayern Munich as being the stand-out example of this in action, with the Bundesliga giants’ organisational structure full of former players.
”It depends if they offer them something,” McCoist said when asked about Ferguson’s future.
”And they might offer him something there. It’s always good to have somebody and people running about the club that know the club and know what the club is all about.
”I go back to Bayern Munich, the spine of their whole thing always has been Munich. Whether it’s Sepp Maier, Gerd Muller, (Uli) Hoeness, (Karl-Heinz) Rummenigge, all the way. Spine.
”It doesn’t guarantee you success but it guarantees you people who come in and know about the club and they find out about the club.“