Rangers are edging closer to appointing a new manager, with just two leading names now dominating the discussion. The club has been without a permanent head coach since Philippe Clement’s dismissal in February, and although Barry Ferguson stepped in to finish the season, six wins from 15 games were not enough to secure the job permanently.
Davide Ancelotti, son of Carlo Ancelotti, has become the odds-on favourite to land the Ibrox role. The 35-year-old has served as an assistant to his father at major clubs such as Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton, and Real Madrid. With Carlo now set to lead the Brazil national team, Davide appears ready to take his first step into senior management on his own.
Russell Martin, who most recently managed Southampton, is close behind Ancelotti in the betting odds. Martin guided the Saints to Premier League promotion but was sacked in December. He also previously led Milton Keynes Dons and Swansea City. The 39-year-old has a Rangers connection from a brief loan spell in 2018 and earned 29 caps for Scotland.
Although names like Francesco Farioli, Marco Rose, and even former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard have been linked, they now appear to be long-shots. Farioli, in particular, was once in contention but dropped off the radar following a disastrous end to his spell with Ajax. His team surrendered a nine-point lead in the final five matches of the Eredivisie season, handing the title to PSV in dramatic fashion.
Talks have reportedly been held with all three of the leading candidates: Ancelotti, Martin, and Farioli. The Rangers board is expected to make a final decision shortly, as the club prepares for a new era under fresh ownership.