The crisis-stricken Glasgow Rangers have to rethink their search for a new coach. Steven Gerrard will not be returning, but Danny Röhl is said to be a serious candidate.
Many fans were already looking forward to Steven Gerrard, but now they have to cope with another blow in a season full of setbacks. The 45-year-old coach, who led Glasgow Rangers to their last league title in 2021, will not be returning to Ibrox Stadium to succeed Russell Martin. According to numerous British media reports, Gerrard turned down the job after negotiations in London – the BBC describes it as a “shock.”
Just this week, Gerrard had announced his intention to return to the dugout. “Part of me still feels like I have something to finish,” he said on the podcast of his former teammate Rio Ferdinand, which had been recorded before Martin’s dismissal from Rangers. However, he only wanted to join a club with which he could win something, “because I think that suits me better.” Until January, Gerrard was with Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia.
Röhl impressed in his first head coaching role
Rangers, who had hoped to have a new head coach in place by Saturday’s home league game against Dundee United (4 p.m.), now have to rethink their plans and could once again approach Danny Röhl, with whom they have reportedly already spoken.
The 36-year-old former assistant to Hansi Flick at FC Bayern and the German national team left English second division club Sheffield Wednesday in July, which had run into financial difficulties. Röhl had previously led the Owls to safety twice in his first stint as head coach — dramatically on the final matchday in his first season and confidently in his second.
Röhl is said to have made a positive impression in talks and is already being touted as the new favorite by the Guardian. However, it remains to be seen whether Rangers will put their trust in another talented coach who has not yet worked in Scottish soccer after 39-year-old Martin. Rangers, who finished runners-up for the fourth consecutive year last season, are already eleven points behind leaders Heart of Midlothian and nine behind archrivals and defending champions Celtic after only one win from their first seven league games. Following their crashing exit from the Champions League play-offs (0-3/1-6 against Club Brugge), they have also made a poor start in the Europa League.
Martin, who had already been greeted with skepticism by fans in the summer, was released before the international break. After the 1-1 draw at Falkirk FC, emotions ran so high that the Scotsman was even escorted out of the stadium by police.
