There was a moment when it looked like former Rangers defender Kevin Muscat would be given the manager’s job at Ibrox.
Then in charge of Yokohama F Marinos, a gig he’d taken in the wake of fellow Australian Ange Postecoglou moving to Celtic, Muscat might’ve been the second Aussie import to make his name in management in Scotland.
But as Postecoglou batters Man City 4-0 – helping to quash sack talk ahead of a Europa League trip to Rangers – the discussion around Kevin Muscat is once again red hot.
Now, the former Rangers managerial candidate is celebrating lifting yet another trophy in China as Philippe Clement stares down the barrel of a gun at Ibrox.
Kevin Muscat leads Shanghai Port to double
As Rangers fans were left seething following the 1-1 draw with Dundee United, Kevin Muscat was guiding Shanghai Port to the first double in their history.
After lifting the Chinese Super League title in his first season, Kevin Muscat has gone one better by guiding Shanghai Port to a first ever FA Cup title.
Beating Shangdong Taishan 3-1 in Wenzhou, the result has sent a shockwave around Australian and Asian football with Kevin Muscat a man in increasing demand.
Rangers fans, many of whom wanted Muscat in the door last year following the sacking of Michael Beale, can only watch on in envy.
Philippe Clement has been unable to build a side capable of delivering on the minimum expectations at Rangers, admitting the club is ‘not where we need to be’ this season.
Rangers manager candidate ‘can manage anywhere’
Kevin Muscat’s stock meanwhile continues to rise and the Aussie coach – who was at Rangers during the treble-winning season of 02/03 – is a man in increasing demand.
Australian manager Ross Aloisi is Muscat’s number two in China and insists the ex-Ibrox star has what it takes to be one of the best managers in the business.
Aloisi absolutely believes in Muscat’s potential and reckons the 51-year-old wouldn’t look out of place in the Premier League.
“For me, he is up there with the best because he has the stats to prove it as far as wins go,” Aloisi told A Leagues.
“To win a Championship anywhere is always difficult but the way he’s won them and the football he’s played puts him up there with the best.
“Where will he end up? Anywhere. He can coach anywhere. It’s not just football, it’s the psychology behind everything. The tactical side of things, it’s not just the training session. To play the football he wants to play, there’s a lot of work that goes into it. Video.
“His thought process on analysis and the way he presents to players is something I’ve never seen before, because he thinks of the way a player thinks, so visual. The way he speaks to players before the game, at half-time – it’s an art. A lot of people don’t have that art.
”There’s no way I could’ve written that story.”
The comments come as Muscat hinted at being turned off a move to Rangers after being asked to explain away his style, something which suggested a lack of knowledge of his background.
One wonders how different things might have been had Rangers chosen to plunge for the Australian a year ago.
