Rangers are hoping to land Pedro Caixinha as their new manager.
General view inside Ibrox
Pundit Neil McCann has told Sky Sports that he thinks Pedro Caixinha should speak to compatriot Pedro Mendes about the Rangers job.
The Gers are looking for a new manager having seen Mark Warburton leave the club in February, along with assistant boss David Weir and recruitment chief Frank McParland.
A host of managers have been linked with the Ibrox job, and whilst Graeme Murty oversaw a 6-0 Scottish Cup win over Hamilton Academical on Saturday, the Gers look set to look outside the club for a new boss.
The favourite with bookmakers in recent days has been Al-Gharafa manager Pedro Caixinha, who is something of an unknown quantity for Rangers fans.
Caixinha, 46, has enjoyed spells as manager of Uniao Leiria, Nacional and Santos Laguna, before heading to Qatar to manage Al-Gharafa – where he coaches former Rangers winger Vladimi Weiss.
The Scottish Sun report that Rangers hope to have Caixinha appointed in time to face Celtic this weekend, and whilst a lengthy battle is ongoing, the Portuguese manager is believed to want a return to Europe.
His status as an unknown means Rangers have been heavily question for their move, with former Gers winger and current pundit Neil McCann offering his view to Sky Sports.
McCann admitted that he would be surprised if Rangers appointed Caixinha, but believes he could speak to compatriot Pedro Mendes about the job, after the Portuguese midfielder made 50 appearances for Rangers.
Pedro Caixinha
McCann added that, as we saw with Warburton, you can only judge the pressure of managing Rangers when you’re actually in the Ibrox hot seat, suggesting he isn’t sure Caixinha is the right appointment for Rangers at this moment.
“I think they’ll entertain a wide variety of coaches, but I’d be surprised if they go for someone like that. I don’t know too much about him, I have to be honest,” said McCann. “Would that be the right guy to come into this club at the minute? Does he know the environment? I imagine, being Portuguese, he’d speak to Pedro Mendes, who spent a lot of time here and might give him the basis.”
“But as Mark Warburton proved, you don’t know it until you’re in it and what pressure this club brings upon your shoulders. What players does he have in mind? Can they play in this environment? If he’s not got the right players in mind to deal with this environment, does the new director of football that Rangers are going after, does he have a style of football or a player in mind that could sort Rangers out? Rangers need to be sorted out at first-team level. I am not sure it would be the right appointment, but if it is him, you have to give him time,” he added.
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