Michael Beale isn’t exactly a name Rangers fans knew before the Summer.
But by the end of Steven Gerrard’s first season it’s one they’ll be more than familiar with.
Obsessives will already be well aware of the work Beale’s been doing. He’s the pitch-level coach. The man who’s on the training ground relaying the backroom staff’s shared vision, the Consigliere in Don Gerrard’s masterplan. Beale leads the footballing conversation. He’s an open well of research, analysis, ideas and opinion.
Whilst Gerrard has the task of working the press, harnessing a feeling and leading the club, Michael Beale is all football. Obsessively all football.
A coach for 17 years, Beale started at Chelsea in 2001
What’s even more impressive, is he has more coaching experience than anyone at the club. Beale was also handpicked by Gerrard, even though they had little history together.
“People assume we must have this long history together but we don’t,” Beale told the Daily Mail.
“When he spoke to me about his ambitions and vision, it was clear we have a lot of common beliefs.”
He comes here with a pretty impressive C.V. and reputation, if being largely untested at this level.
Beale started in pro-football at the Chelsea Academy in 2001 after he originally coached futsal to kids. Working and developing young talent has been one of Beale’s strong points since he began in football. This followed at Liverpool after he joined in 2012, taking charge of a talented Under-15s team.
Beale also has experience in Brazil. He bravely took a step to Sao Paolo in 2016 where he served as Assistant Manager to Rogerio Ceni for nine months. That same ambition is what took him to Ibrox.
Michael Beale loving life at Ibrox
From the outside looking in, Beale looks like he’s over the moon with the role at Ibrox.
When things go well, it’s not just about the club. It’s also a vindication of the backroom staff’s small successes on that training pitch.
https://twitter.com/MichaelBeale/status/1042860566715543555
https://twitter.com/MichaelBeale/status/1043988292306440192
There’s no doubt. He’s enjoying it here.
Speaking to Rangers TV in pre-season, Beale said: “It’s a huge club. I think it’s a fantastic moment for the club. With the manager starting, Gary Mac, there’s people that I know coming in. Also with the tradition of the club it is an opportunity that was a very simple and quick one, the decision was made the moment Steven asked me. It’s a pleasure to be here.”
In fact, Steven Gerrard, Gary Mac, Michael Beale, Tom Culshaw, Jordan Milsom and Colin Stewart all seem to be enjoying themselves.
They’re a relatively young backroom team, and they’re hungry to prove themselves.
Beale in particular has done an exceptional job relaying a vision to a newly amalgamated side. They all have. Rangers are building a self-belief they haven’t had in years.
If Rangers keep performing as they have been, it won’t just be them that are familiar with Michael Beale by the end of the season.
It’ll be a lot more people across football too.
