Rangers can forget about Gerrard & Ancelotti by hiring "one of the best"

Glasgow Rangers search for a new manager might well stretch into June as the Ibrox side are not any further forward after the end of the 2024/25 campaign last week.

The longer the club waits, the harder it will be for the new manager to integrate smoothly, thus wasting precious preparation time.

Celtic are on course to win yet another domestic treble, their sixth in the previous nine seasons. If the wrong man is appointed this summer, Brendan Rodgers will only continue to motor his side further and further away from Rangers.

It is no exaggeration to say that this is perhaps the most important summer in the club’s recent history. Get the right manager in, and the Light Blues could enjoy their own Martin O’Neil or Ange Postecoglou, a force which stops the opposition juggernaut.

If not, the consequences could prove to be catastrophic, no doubt about that.

The latest on Steven Gerrard and Davide Ancelotti

The two names that have been routinely linked to taking over the vacant role at Ibrox are Steven Gerrard and Davide Ancelotti.

Gerrard has plenty of history with the Gers. His first senior managerial role came in Glasgow, arriving in the summer of 2018 to try and restore the club to the summit of Scottish football.

His first two seasons saw plenty of progress, including three victories over Celtic, with a win at Parkhead for the first time since 2010, but no trophies were won.

The 2020/21 season changed all that. After some smart recruitment in the summer of 2020, signing players such as Kemar Roofe, Ianis Hagi, and Calvin Bassey, the Light Blues won their first Premiership title in a decade.

Not only that, they went through the league season undefeated, and it looked as though this was just the start of another era of dominance.

For Gerrard, however, a lack of backing in the transfer market ahead of the 2021/22 campaign saw him doubt his future at Ibrox. When Aston Villa came calling, he jumped ship to the riches of the Premier League.

Now, it looks as though the Englishman is ready for a return to the club where he began his managerial career. He knows the club inside out, that’s a certainty, but will a return be the right thing for Rangers?

Elsewhere, Ancelotti has been linked with a surprise move to the Gers to become their new head coach. It was then revealed that the Italian was going to join his dad, Carlo, as Brazil assistant in the run-up to the 2026 World Cup. This meant he was out of the running.

Recent news suggests that Ancelotti is set to make a name for himself as a manager this summer, which puts a move to Rangers back on.

He has worked with his father at clubs such as Madrid, Bayern Munich and Napoli over the years, but is he ready for the step-up to a managerial role?

There has been another name surprisingly, linked with a move to Ibrox. And he also has a previous history with the club…

Rangers considering move for Gennaro Gattuso

While all the talk has surrounded Gerrard and Ancelotti, names such as Russell Martin, Rob Edwards and Gary O’Neil have also been considered by the board for the role, according to journalist Graeme Bailey.

One name stands out among the noise, however, and that is Gennaro Gattuso. Bailey mentions the Italian as a manager the club are also considering, but unlike the rest of those linked, Gattuso is currently in charge of a club.

Indeed, he could lead Hajduk Split to their first domestic title since 2005, although it will be a long shot after their collapse over the previous few weeks.

Reports state that he could leave the Croatian side, even if he somehow leads them to the title, which means he would be available this summer.

Would Rangers take a chance on their former player? That much remains to be seen.

Gennaro Gattuso could be a perfect left-field choice for Rangers

The 2006 World Cup winner has managed nine clubs since hanging up his boots, winning the Coppa Italia with Napoli in 2020, which is his only trophy in management thus far.

Truth be told, he hasn’t been a major success at any of the clubs that he has taken over in the past. He spent nearly two years in charge of AC Milan between November 2017 and May 2019, but he failed to return them to the top of Serie A.

Utilising a 4-2-3-1 system throughout his career in the dugout, this could work well with the players he would have at his disposal should he surprisingly take the reins at Ibrox.

After his cup glory with Napoli five years ago, journalist Anthony Lopopolo lavished praise on the former midfielder, saying:

“Gattuso is one of the best men in football. He deserves the Coppa Italia and so much more. He’s had some odd jobs in his coaching career, and he’s faced a lot of criticism, but he’s a winner because he has principles.”

These sorts of qualities would work in Glasgow. He knows what it is to win, having led AC Milan to two Serie A titles and two Champions League trophies between 2003 and 2011.

He spent a single season at Rangers during 1997/98. Although they failed to win their tenth league title in a row, Gattuso’s early abilities were on show, and it was clear he would have an excellent career in the game.

It would be taking a big gamble in appointing Gattuso, but is it any bigger than making a move for Ancelotti?

The hot-headed coach may not be perfect, but the Light Blues need someone with that winning mentality. The former Italy international knows plenty about that. That’s for certain.

Whoever is appointed faces a busy summer transfer window indeed.

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