Francesco Farioli is probably a name the Rangers board will live to regret.
The 34-year-old Italian manager impressed Rangers bosses after meeting with the club’s board following the sacking of Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
Then with Turkish side Alanyaspor, Rangers opted instead to move for Michael Beale and within a year the ex-Ibrox assistant was tossed on the scrap heap.
Whilst things are slowly heading in the right direction under Philippe Clement, the naivety of the Rangers board in not moving for Francesco Farioli has been shown up by the Italian’s form at OGC Nice.
Francesco Farioli on fire at OGC Nice
The weekend’s 1-0 win over Toulouse was the club’s eighth clean sheet in a row with the young Italian manager’s side only a point off the top of Ligue 1.
Still unbeaten in the division this season, they sit one point off PSG and at this early stage of the season look like potential title challengers.
It’s not a bad situation for Francesco Farioli to find himself in and one suspects the Rangers-linked manager is destined for bigger and better things in the future.
That’s why the Rangers board might be cursing themselves for appointing Michael Beale last November when the Italian was said to be seriously interested in the gig.
Michael Beale the “safe” choice
After the domestic disappointment of Giovanni van Bronckhorst, perhaps Rangers wanted greater familiarity in the role in Govan.
Michael Beale had served as Ibrox assistant to Steven Gerrard and retained links to the club.
Not to mention the fact the manager’s stock was sky high after a bright Championship start with QPR and interest from Premier League Wolves.
It meant the Rangers board jumped at the opportunity to snare the highly-rated coach whilst Francesco Farioli was widely reported as a strong alternative who the club would “keep tabs” on.
With Beale failing in both cups last season and starting this campaign disastrously amid much scrutiny on his transfer business, the move didn’t work out as planned.
But for Francesco Farioli, now attracting the gaze of Premier League clubs, the young Italian stands on the verge of something special with OGC Nice.
