There is certainly no shortage of managers in recent football history who got the top job after impressing on an interim basis. Should Barry Ferguson ensure a bright end to the season for Rangers, then, that would provide plenty to think about for the Ibrox bosses.
Ross McCormack, a team mate of the former Ibrox captain when starting his career, feels that Barry Ferguson could be kept on at Rangers should he take the team deep into the Europa League while securing a stand-out Old Firm derby victory over Celtic in mid-March.
A legend returning to replace an unpopular manager and breathing new life into a tired old institution? Rangers’ answer to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, perhaps?
For now, though, the signs still point to a full-time successor arriving to succeed Philippe Clement over the summer. Ferguson, lest we forget, has not spent an extended period of time in any dugout since an unsuccessful spell at lower-league Alloa Athletic in 2022.
In terms of permanent appointments, Rangers have been linked with bringing Steven Gerrard back to the club where he won the league four years ago. The chances of that, however, feel slim.
Andy Halliday is talking up former Southampton boss Russell Martin, feeling he would bring a possession-based gameplan while also solving a long-standing issue with low blocks, while Ferguson was full of praise for Derek McInnes before Wednesday’s 4-2 comeback win over Kilmarnock.
One of the names that has snook somewhat under the radar so far, however, is that of David Wagner.
Blackburn Rovers open door for Rangers to land David Wagner
The former Huddersfield Town, Schalke, Young Boys and Norwich City coach is currently out of work following a play-off semi-final defeat to Leeds United last year.
Rangers, according to reports, have placed Wagner on their early managerial shortlist. And should the Glasgow giants plan to formalise their interest later down the line, news of Valerien Ismael’s appointment south of the border at Blackburn Rovers somewhat clears the path.
Blackburn appeared to have settled on either Ismael or Wagner earlier this week.
Now, with ex-West Brom boss Ismael in the building – he signed a three-year deal after the once-Rangers linked John Eustace left for Derby County – that means Wagner is still on the market and waiting for an opportunity to arise.
Pep Guardiola called Wagner ‘incredible’ after Huddersfield Town success
Wagner, who started out as a youth coach at Borussia Dortmund and famously was the best man at Jurgen Klopp’s wedding, is best remembered for taking an unfancied Huddersfield outfit into the Premier League for the very first time despite a budget only a fraction of some of their more deep-pocketed rivals.
Wagner then went one better. Huddersfield remarkably avoided relegation in 2018, with their much-admired head coach helping to kick-start the top-flight careers of Aaron Mooy, Philip Billing and Matthias Jorgensen.
“First of all, a big compliment to Wagner for what he has done in the club; Promoted and an incredible season [to avoid the drop],” none other than Pep Guardiola said back in 2019, paying tribute to the 53-year-old German following his emotional Huddersfield departure.
“He did an incredible job because in the circumstances it’s not easy to compete in the Premier League with the players they have.”
