Former Rangers manager Alex McLeish has dispelled the myth that he never played Kevin Muscat against Celtic due to his notorious temperament.
Legend has it that the former Rangers boss never played the Australian during the Old Firm clashes of the treble-winning 02/03 season due to the risk of the defender being sent off.
It comes with Kevin Muscat having carved out a reputation as a hard man during his playing days with the claim even making its way into Australian media and the former Ibrox star saying he’d “never forgive” Alex McLeish as a result.
But speaking as the now-Yokohama F Marinos boss is strongly linked with the vacant manager’s job at Rangers, Alex McLeish insists the thought never crossed his mind and that he never played Kevin Muscat purely because there were better options available at the time.
“I don’t know – maybe it was just coincidental!” McLeish said.
“It just seemed to be that when those games came around that year, I had other players in mind to start.
“It wasn’t something like I was consciously going out with a decision that I was never going to play him against Celtic.”
Alex McLeish talks up Kevin Muscat Rangers manager credentials
Given Kevin Muscat is now being linked to the vacant Rangers manager’s job, Alex McLeish has also been talking about his qualities for the role.
The former Rangers boss has also been talking up the credentials of Philippe Clement in the press this week but equally believes his former Socceroo would do a fine job at Ibrox.
“He was a good character about the dressing room,” said McLeish. “He let his voice be known and that’s possibly where you could see him moving into management and coaching in future.
“He was a captain-type person in the dressing room and I’ve nothing but good things to say about Kevin.
“Of course [there were times when you had to rein in his temper]. You have to manage your anger levels and not react at a club like Rangers.
“But he was a big rough Aussie, that was the type of character he was.
“We’ve kept in touch down the years since our time at Rangers but I haven’t spoken to him recently about these links with the Rangers’ managers job.
“Kevin has served a bit of an apprenticeship under Ange as well as a stint in Belgium. I was in touch with him during that period, but is he now ready for the Rangers job? Who is?“
As Rangers enter the international break, Alex McLeish, Kevin Muscat and Philippe Clement will soon get an answer with the manager’s void expected to be filled within the next week.
The club also appear to be honing in one target in particular.
