Rangers should consider Slaven Bilic’s 2010 comments before deciding on managerial target

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Glasgow Rangers are still looking for their next manager, so should the Ibrox side consider Slaven Bilic following his departure from West Ham United?

With the international break providing a perfect opportunity for Rangers to get their house in order, it would certainly be no surprise to see the Gers step up their pursuit to find Pedro Caixinha’s successor.

A number of names have been linked with the post, and it would hardly be a shock if the Rangers hierarchy have identified the majority of the targets they wish to speak to given that Caixinha has been gone for over a week.

But perhaps a key development at West Ham over the weekend coupled with comments that Slaven Bilic made in 2010 should tempt the Rangers board to add one more name to their shortlist of potential targets.

Seven years ago, Bilic – who was manager of Croatia at the time – suggested to the Daily Record that he would walk to Glasgow for the opportunity to have an interview with either of the Old Firm if he was out of a job.

“It’s not just football, it’s everything. It’s your life. If I had an invite from Celtic or Rangers to go for an interview I would walk to Glasgow,” he said, as reported by the Daily Record.

“I’ve had calls in the past but I didn’t do it because I decided to stay here. The Croatia manager’s role is also more than just a job.

“If the Old Firm were to ask me to be boss one day? At the moment I have a job and I’m not on the phone looking for another one.”

Although those comments were made several years ago, it would be no surprise if much of his respect towards the two Scottish Premiership sides remained – and now is the time for Rangers to give him the reason to prove that he was serious about walking to Glasgow.

Of course, Bilic’s tenure at the London Stadium did not end well, but there were some real bright points during his time with the Hammers, and he undoubtedly brings the passion that Rangers’ next manager should have.

With his CV, he would arguably be a fantastic appointment for the Gers if they decided to pursue him and managed to bring him to Ibrox – and appointing someone of his stature would arguably boost the club’s hopes of attracting some exciting players to the club in the coming months.

Bilic may, of course, want to take some time off following his West Ham exit, but the Gers should at least try and reach out to the 49-year-old and see whether there is any interest from his side.