Rangers’ – and Celtic’s – course could have been very different had they appointed Rene Meulensteen.
Former Fulham manager Rene Meulensteen
It is one year ago that Rene Meulensteen expressed his regret at failing to land the Rangers job.
The Dutchman was the former first team coach at Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson, and had a brief spell in charge at Russian side Anzhi Machachkala.
Meulensteen said that he wanted the Rangers job when it was previously vacant, losing out to Mark Warburton.
He told ELF Voetbal “That seemed like an awfully nice challenge. A club with a rich history.
“The story sounded good. I would have been there to build something, but the club opted for Mark Warburton with club icon David Weir as an assistant. Very sorry.”
Meulensteen had another standout job on his CV, former Fulham boss, where he helped oversee Moussa Dembele’s development.
Fulham’s Moussa Dembele has a shot at goal
The striker left Fulham when his contract expired last summer and signed for Rangers’ rivals Celtic, where he has scored prolifically and struck decisively in Old Firm games, including a hat-trick back in September.
While at Fulham, Meulensteen made fast tracking Dembele a priority, before his untimely sacking, raving about the then 17-year-old to the Evening Standard: “He is a goalscorer, first and foremost. Moussa knows where the net is and he is clinical in and around the box.
“He has a variety of finishes and he is a good athlete as well. He is a strong player and has got a great personality.”
A year ago when Meulensteen made his comments about having missed out on the Rangers job, it looked like it was just as well, with Mark Warburton leading Rangers to promotion and a cup final.
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