Pedro Caixinha has suggested that a ‘local’ candidate will be appointed as his Rangers assistant.
New Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha in the stands with Pedro Mendes
Rangers have confirmed the appointment of Pedro Caixinha as their new manager, but the club still have plenty of work to do behind the scenes.
Portuguese boss Caixinha, 46, has left Al-Gharafa in Qatar to take over from Mark Warburton at Ibrox, and he was in the stands to see Rangers draw 1-1 with Old Firm rivals Celtic on Sunday afternoon.
Whilst Rangers have a manager in place, they are not only looking for a Director of Football, but must also press ahead with a move to bring in an assistant manager for Caixinha to work with, having seen David Weir leave the club along with Warburton.
On Monday, Caixinha told the Glasgow Evening Times that he wants a ‘local’ assistant to help him adjust to life in Scotland and at Rangers, rather than bringing in somebody with little knowledge of Scottish football and the way of life in Scotland.
Fans will be looking to see a man with history of Rangers assist Caixinha, and here are three ex-Gers players who could fit the bill…
Barry Ferguson
Perhaps the most obvious contender, Ferguson had two spells with Rangers as a player, racking up almost 450 appearances across his time with the club. Often tipped as a future Rangers manager, Ferguson has recently been in charge of fourth tier Clyde, but left his post last month, sparking rumours of a return to Ibrox. A former Rangers captain and fan favourite, there may not be many better placed to assist Caixinha.
Barry Ferguson
Alex Rae
A boyhood Rangers fan who started his career with the club before returning to Ibrox in 2004, Rae is a Glaswegian with a strong connection to the Gers. Rae, 47, made over 30 league appearances for Rangers in his two-year spell at Ibrox, and also turned out for Falkirk and Dundee in Scotland. Rae has managerial experience with Dundee and St Mirren, whilst he has also been an assistant with Notts County and Genk, the latter of joined alongside ex-Rangers boss Alex McLeish. Rae may not be quite as popular as Ferguson, but his experience makes him a sensible candidate.
Neil McCann
The left-field option was used when Rangers appointed Caixinha, and they could do it again by moving for McCann. A former Rangers winger who made over 100 league appearances with the club, the 42-year-old has turned to punditry since ending his playing days, working for Sky Sports to cover Scottish football. McCann remains popular with Rangers fans, many of whom have been touting him for the job today, but whether he would give up his role with Sky Sports to become Caixinha’s assistant remains to be seen.
Who would you like to see arrive as Caixinha’s assistant?
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