Gerrard? McInnes? What next for Rangers if Rohl leaves?

June 12, 2026 No Comments

Gerrard? McInnes? What next for Rangers if Rohl leaves?Image source, SNSByThomas DuncanBBC Sport ScotlandPublished26 minutes agoWith players due to report for pre-season training in the next week or so, Rangers could well be looking for a third manager in a year.RB Salzburg are reportedly in talks with Danny Rohl to become their new head coach and, while that guarantees nothing, Rangers fans are already thinking about what next season could look like without the German.

Despite Rohl hauling Rangers back into the title race after a torrid start under Russell Martin last season, losing four of their last five games to finish third undermined his authority with many fans.

Interest from Germany and now Austria in the 37-year-old has been rumbling for a while, and it might suit both him and Rangers to end their eight-month relationship.

If that does come to pass, what comes next at Ibrox?

A return for Steven Gerrard? A move for Hearts head coach Derek McInnes? Or a wider search for the person who can revive Rangers?

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Could Gerrard return to Rangers again?

Gerrard reported he was “very close” to returning to Ibrox when Martin was sacked last October, before Rohl was appointed instead.

“There were a few things I was uncertain about,” the former Liverpool captain reported in November last year.

“And if I’m going to take a challenge that big and that important – I’ve got that affection and connection with Rangers – for me to take that on again it had to be perfect and I had to be 100% ready.”

One thing Gerrard was reported to be “uncertain” about was working under the Rangers hierarchy at the time, including the sporting director Kevin Thelwell.

Gerrard has never been explicit about this, but with Thelwell and chief executive Patrick Stewart both dismissed in the wake of a terrible start to last season, the Liverpool legend would be walking into a different club.

Rangers have not directly replaced Thelwell, which might suit Gerrard who would likely want a bigger say about recruitment.

He also struggled to have the same impact at Aston Villa and Saudi club Al-Ettifaq as he managed at Ibrox, where is he is still lauded by fans for delivering their last title in 2021.

“I think I suit a certain job; the passionate crowd – I need to try and feed off that,” Gerrard told The Smith Brothers’ podcast in December.

“Something has to match my skillset, if you know what I mean. I am looking for the right match. Rangers was perfect, I was really close to going up there again.”

Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh and his consortium’s willingness to keep investing in the squad would also be attractive to Gerrard, who grew frustrated at what he felt was a lack of backing towards the end of his first tenure.

Will McInnes be considered?

Due to his experience and success in Scottish football, and playing history with Rangers, McInnes has often been talked about as a potential manager for the club.

He rejected the chance to become manager once before, opting to stay at Aberdeen back in 2017. That was during a time when Rangers were toiling as a club and the Pittodrie side were Celtic’s main challengers.

But it might be an equally big job for the Ibrox hierarchy to persuade him to leave Hearts nine years on, given his historic first season at Tynecastle.

They were minutes away from a first league title since 1960 before succumbing to a late defeat by Celtic, who clinched the Premiership crown.

Before Rohl took charge in October, McInnes was asked about the vacancy but was clear he was committed to Hearts, even before their remarkable title tilt went into overdrive.

“I love it here,” he reported. “It’s been a long time for me coming here. I always thought this was a job that I wanted to be at. I’m working with some good people.

“I mentioned a few there, the support from [sporting director] Graeme Jones and the board, but the players have been first class in terms of their efforts day in and day out, and, I think for us, we feel we can be successful here, we really do.”

McInnes has a strong relationship with Jones, and given the backing from Tony Bloom and his data analytics company it would be hard to walk away from a job.

Particularly with Hearts entering Champions League qualifiers next month.

What about someone else?

Plenty of Rangers fans will think narrowing options to Gerrard or McInnes, known candidates, is self-defeating.

There could be lots of options out there who have worked abroad and had success, who Rangers should consider in the event Rohl does leave.

While that is undoubtedly true, there is not a long list of so-called ‘outsiders’ to Rangers coming in and bringing the level of success which is demanded.

Dick Advocaat would be one of the few.

There is a unique, almost intangible quality which makes a successful Rangers or Celtic manager. An understanding of the demands, the Glasgow dynamics and a certain presence are essential.

It is at least part of the reason why both Celtic and Rangers often go back to managers who have either lead the club before or at least played for them.

Martin had played for Rangers and did not have those qualities, which shows it certainly does not always work.

Rangers may want to find their own Ange Postecoglou or Jens Berthel Askou.

But with the club finishing third in their first year of new ownership and on a five-year league title drought, the hierarchy could be forgiven for narrowing their search.

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Published

18 June 2023

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