The Odds on Next Rangers' Manager: Club Legend, England Legend, or Mourinho
And the main favourite? A Championship specialist.
After Rangers’ hard-fought 3-2 victory over Celtic, interim boss Barry Ferguson doesn’t seem so “interim” anymore. He’s enjoyed an incredible run, even knocking José Mourinho’s Fenerbahce out of the Europa League. Still, a Scottish league title remains out of reach.
Who will become Rangers' next permanent manager?
So, will the board stick with Ferguson, or will they hand the job to Steven Gerrard? One of the contenders is also Ferguson’s latest scalp—José Mourinho. In this preview, we’ll break down the chances of the leading candidates to take the hot seat at Rangers. And of course, we’ll highlight the best betting options.
Next Rangers Manager Odds
The bookmakers’ top favourite is former Southampton boss Russell Martin, who appears to have had plenty of time to recharge since his departure back in December.
Top 5 Contenders
Rangers traditionally appoint managers from Britain. Out of their last 10 head coaches, only three have come from abroad—such as their most recent departure, Philippe Clement. The rest either worked in England or were part of the club’s internal system.
Russell Martin
The former Gers defender fits the classic profile of a Rangers manager. He has playing experience in Scotland and managerial experience in the Premier League. Perhaps most importantly, he’s the only name publicly mentioned by insiders. According to The Sun, Martin’s candidacy is being discussed by “influential boardroom figures” within Rangers’ leadership.
Martin is expected to deliver quick results. He impressed in the Championship last season, guiding Southampton to promotion in his very first campaign in charge.
The bookmakers paint a clear picture of the potential candidates, but their top pick rarely ends up getting the job. After Clement’s dismissal, Ferguson was on the shortlist of favorites, but Martin and Gerrard were considered the more likely options. We all know who ended up as interim manager in the end.
Barry Ferguson
Another man from within the club’s system. In fact, he’s often referred to as a club legend: over 400 appearances, 15 trophies, and twice the team captain. Right now, though, what matters more is how swiftly and effectively he reorganized the side after replacing Clement.
Four wins in five matches. Progression to the Europa League quarter-finals. And a dramatic last-minute victory over Celtic in the league. Still, fan enthusiasm remains cautious. The odds of Rangers winning a European trophy may have been halved, but they’re still at
20/1
And their Premiership title odds? A staggering
100/1
— still firmly in the realm of fantasy.
But if Ferguson delivers only the second European trophy in Rangers’ history, his rivals won’t stand a chance. After knocking out Fenerbahce, his odds of becoming the club’s permanent boss have dropped significantly.
Steven Gerrard
Whoever becomes Rangers' next permanent manager will face a massive challenge: ending Celtic’s dominance in Scottish football.
Sounds familiar? That’s exactly what was expected of Steven Gerrard when he took charge in 2018. Back then, Celtic were on the verge of becoming the first Scottish club to win 10 league titles in a row—until Gerrard led the Light Blues to glory in 2021.
Currently unattached after his stint with Al-Ettifaq, Gerrard remains a hero to many Rangers fans for that achievement.
José Mourinho
The “Special One” has crashed out of Europe with Fenerbahçe and is trailing hopelessly behind Galatasaray in the Turkish Super Lig. It’s entirely possible he’ll be on the lookout for a new job soon.
Ahead of the first leg against Rangers, the Fenerbahce manager was directly asked whether he had any interest in taking over a job in Scottish football. His response?
Mourinho certainly made his mark on the British Isles. Many still remember his time fondly at Chelsea and Manchester United. But his most recent return, with Tottenham, was a total failure. It’s unlikely we’ll see the Portuguese coach back in British club football anytime soon.
Rafael Benítez
Rafael Benítez boasts an impressive résumé, having led some of the world’s biggest clubs, such as Real Madrid and Liverpool. Rangers could benefit from the Spaniard’s wealth of experience, and he might just be the one to bring success back to Ibrox.
His most recent role was with Celta Vigo, although it was a short-lived tenure, delivering only five wins in 28 league games.
Other Contenders
There are plenty of other big names linked to the job. For example:
But Italian managers rarely settle well in Scotland. Southgate and Terzić both have ambitions of leading one of Europe’s elite clubs in the Champions League. In fact, many top club boards share Terzić’s opinion of himself as a future top-level manager.
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Columbia
Paraguay
Venezuela
Peru
Argentina
Brazil
Chile
Ecuador
