Chris Sutton believes Kevin Muscat may be the right man for the Rangers job with the Yokohama F Marinos emulating the success of former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou over in Japan.
A long-time sparring partner to Postecoglou and his replacement in the Yokohama F Marinos dugout, Kevin Muscat has not only picked up where his fellow Aussie left off – guiding his current employers to the J-League title in 2022 – he has also maintained the kind of free-flowing, fluid possession football that the now-Tottenham Hotspur boss implemented at the Nissan Stadium.
“Marinos has a fighting style that has been established since the time of Mr Postecoglou. (Muscat’s 4-3-3 formation) utilises the strengths of the left and right wingers,” Tomohiro Katanosaka, who has come up against Muscat during his time at Gamba Osaka, tells Footballista.
“It’s amazing how they follow the cycle of taking the ball, speeding up (the tempo), and creating situations where they can push into the enemy’s territory to score goals.
“The tactics are thoroughly practiced, the intensity is high, and the offensive and defensive methods are firmly established. No matter who plays, the style and intensity will be the same. That is the Marinos’ strength.”
Rangers could bring Kevin Muscat back to Ibrox
Considering that Rangers, during the drawn-out final weeks of the Mick Beale era, looked like a team crying out for an identity, Muscat’s clear, coherent and consistent tactical stylings could bring to Ibrox what Ange Postecoglou brought at Parkhead, inheriting a Celtic side in a mess following the Neil Lennon disaster and immediately transforming them into champions again.
And, when asked to name the coach who could be to Rangers what Postecoglou was to Celtic, Hoops legend Sutton was unequivocal.
“Kevin Muscat,” Sutton tells BBC 5Live. “I think, in a similar route to Ange Postecoglou, he’s been a manager for ten years. He’s got enough experience and has been pretty successful in the J-League.”
Muscat won a league title in Japan
According to the Daily Record, Muscat – who had a spell as a player at Rangers two decades ago – is one of the leading candidates to take over at Ibrox alongside ex-Monaco and Club Brugge boss Philippe Clement.
