Glasgow Rangers ended their 2024/25 campaign in typically disappointing fashion when they were held to a 2-2 draw by Hibernian at Easter Road on Saturday.
The Gers led 1-0 and 2-1 throughout the match but were pegged back both times and, ultimately, had to settle for a draw in what was Barry Ferguson’s last match in charge of the club.
The former Scotland international came in to take interim charge until the end of the season when Philippe Clement was relieved of his duties in February, and has not done a particularly impressive job as caretaker.
Ferguson ended his interim spell with just six wins in 15 matches in all competitions, including five draws and four defeats, and his team only kept two clean sheets in that time – most recently in the 4-0 win over Aberdeen.
These statistics do not suggest that the Scottish head coach is a suitable candidate to take the job on a full-time basis, and it has since been confirmed that he has left his post.
The Light Blues have already been linked with a host of other managers to land the job this summer, including Real Madrid assistant manager Davide Ancelotti.
The latest on Davide Ancelotti to Rangers
It was recently reported in Spain that the Italian coach had decided to remain with his father, Carlo Ancelotti, and follow him into the Brazil national team job this summer.
The outlet claimed that Ancelotti was due to turn down a move to Rangers, and any other interested clubs, to work with the Brazil squad for at least another year, potentially with a view to working at the World Cup in 2026, before making a decision on his future.
However, the Daily Record have since stated that the Real Madrid assistant is still a contender for the Rangers job, but that he is not the only boss in the running for the role.
These reports are conflicting and make it hard to get a real gauge on how likely the Italian tactician is to be in the dugout at Ibrox when the 2025/26 campaign gets underway.
As you can see in the graphic above, he has learned from one of the best to ever do it, as his father has won so many trophies at the very top level of European football. Carlo Ancelotti has won all five of Europe’s major leagues and won the Champions League five times, which speaks to his immense quality as a manager.
However, Davide Ancelotti is yet to prove himself as the main man coaching a team. He has not managed a team at first-team level and that makes him an unknown quantity, which is why the 49ers could be better off forgetting about him and swooping for a more experienced head coach this summer.
The other contenders for the Rangers job
The Daily Record recently reported that Ancelotti is not the only manager being considered by the 49ers and Kevin Thelwell, as they are also looking at several British coaches.
It was revealed that Sean Dyche, Gary O’Neil, and Russell Martin, all sacked by Premier League teams this season, are also being eyed up by the Scottish giants.
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Of those three managers, Martin is the only one who has experience of Scottish football. The former central defender and right-back had a short stint on loan at Ibrox in the 2017/18 campaign, and was a Scotland international, despite being born and raised in England.
He would be available on a free transfer should Rangers decide to make a move for him because Southampton parted ways with the manager earlier this year, which would also make him more attainable than Ancelotti, who is still in a job with his father.
With this in mind, Thelwell must pursue a deal to bring Martin back to Ibrox for a stint as a manager rather than a player ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, as he could be an even better option than Ancelotti.
Why Rangers should appoint Russell Martin
As aforementioned, Ancelotti does not have any relevant first-team managerial experience that Rangers can look at to see a demonstrable style of play or how he would deal with a group of players as the main leader.
He has won trophies as an assistant to his father at Real Madrid but it would still be a gamble to appoint him as the next Gers manager, as his managerial quality is still unknown.
Martin, however, has plenty of experience as a manager or head coach in England thanks to his time with MK Dons, Swansea, and Southampton, managing in League One, the Championship, and the Premier League.
As you can see in the graphic above, the former Scotland international has managed over 200 matches in English football, and enjoyed a fantastic overall record at Southampton, despite being sacked after struggling in the top-flight.
One of the big positives in Martin’s column is also that he has a demonstrable way of playing that could excite supporters and lead the club into the 49ers era in style.
Pass accuracy
87.7%
1st
Passes into the penalty area
594
1st
Progressive passes
2556
1st
Shot-creating actions
1255
1st
xG
79.8
2nd
Points per game
1.89
4th
As you can see in the table above, the former Southampton manager earned promotion from the Championship with a ball-dominant and attacking style at St. Mary’s in the 2023/24 campaign.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta claimed that Martin’s style of play is a “joy to watch” and “successful”, which shows that the former Rangers defender has impressed one of the top managers in Europe with his work on the coaching pitch.
This shows that the former Scotland international has a demonstrably exciting style of play because he effectively coached his way of playing in the second tier to earn promotion with the Saints, and caught the eye of the Gunners boss.
Therefore, Martin could be an excellent option for the 49ers and Thelwell to consider in the coming weeks because he would come in with a track record of being able to deploy an exciting and dominant style when he has had the quality of players to do so.
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Therefore, Rangers should forget about Ancelotti, who has yet to prove himself in senior management, and appoint Martin to lead the Gers into the 49ers era.