Rangers have officially appointed QPR boss Michael Beale as the club’s new manager – and sent a dramatic message to the Premier League in the process.
The former Ibrox assistant to Steven Gerrard will become the club’s 18th manager following the departure of Giovanni van Bronckhorst but the move is not without controversy.
Rangers’ appointment of Michael Beale comes after the former Ibrox number two turned down a move to Premier League Wolves earlier in the season.
Beale, 42, was praised extensively for sticking with the Rs amid the carrot of Premier League football, the ex-Liverpool, Chelsea and Sao Paolo coach displaying loyalty to his first top job in the game.
But the lure of Rangers – whom Beale previously said “no-body turns down” – has proven too strong and it’s left several outspoken Premier League advocates dumbfounded.
QPR boss Michael Beale chooses Rangers over Premier League
Why Michael Beale would take the Rangers job over the Wolves job, despite the latter being in the Premier League, is obvious to anyone with a genuine love of the game but to several who look down their nose at the Scottish game, the move comes as a surprise.
But for Rangers fans and for Michael Beale the move always looked likely once the Ibrox board had made up their mind and now the focus will be on the club regaining superiority domestically.
Michael Beale has promised to play aggressive, attacking football domestically and after a year of the horseshoe it’s likely to be a welcome sight at Ibrox.
The manager has also expressed his pride at being named the manager of Rangers after previously serving as an assistant.
‘It is fantastic to be back and to see everybody this morning, there are some new faces but some people that I know really well so it is great to see everyone,” said Michael Beale [Rangers].
“I am hugely proud, it is a wonderful, wonderful football club, it is an institution. For everyone that works here it is a huge privilege, but to be the manager of this football club, that is extremely special.
“Some wonderful people have sat in this chair prior to me, and I am hugely proud to be the person sat here now.”
Meanwhile, an ex-Arsenal man is set to be involved in the coaching set-up at the club.
