Ally McCoist Doubts Rangers’ Rumored Davide Ancelotti Appointment
The rumor mill is swirling with speculation that Rangers Football Club is considering Davide Ancelotti, son of legendary manager Carlo Ancelotti, as their next head coach. However, Rangers icon Ally McCoist has voiced strong reservations about this potential appointment, arguing that the club’s urgent need for immediate success demands a proven manager, not an untested coach who might require time to prove himself.
McCoist, speaking on talkSPORT, expressed skepticism about the wisdom of appointing Davide Ancelotti, a 35-year-old assistant coach with no managerial experience. Despite Ancelotti’s impressive resume as an assistant under his father at clubs like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Napoli, and Everton, McCoist believes the leap to managing Rangers is a risky move. “Every appointment is a gamble,” he noted, “but I think it’s difficult to pre-judge. I don’t know a lot about Davide Ancelotti.” His cautious tone reflects a broader concern: Rangers cannot afford to pin their hopes on someone unproven when Celtic’s dominance looms large.
The context of Rangers’ managerial search amplifies McCoist’s concerns. Philippe Clement was sacked in February, and with a takeover by 49ers Enterprises on the horizon, the club faces a critical juncture. Champions League qualifiers in July and a new Scottish Premiership season in August leave little room for a manager to settle in. McCoist argues that Rangers need a figure who can deliver results from day one, not a “project boss” learning on the job.Reports from Spain, such as AS Diario, suggest Ancelotti is a leading candidate, with talks of a three-year deal and Real Madrid assistant Francesco Mauri joining him. Yet, Rangers sources insist no appointment is imminent, and other candidates like Danny Rohl, Rob Edwards, and Gary O’Neil remain in the frame. McCoist’s apprehension aligns with fan concerns, with some, like caller Sean McGarvey, warning of parallels to appointing unproven names like Darren Ferguson, highlighting the risks of banking on pedigree alone.
McCoist acknowledges the allure of Ancelotti’s experience at elite clubs but cautions against assuming he’ll replicate his father’s success. “Assumption is the mother of all failures,” one report noted, echoing McCoist’s view that Rangers need a manager with a tangible track record. With Celtic poised for another treble, McCoist believes Rangers must prioritize certainty over potential, favoring experienced options like Steven Gerrard, who led Rangers to an unbeaten title in 2021. As the rumor of Ancelotti’s appointment persists, McCoist’s plea is clear: Rangers need a leader who can hit the ground running, not a hopeful experiment.
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Sources:
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Sky Sports, “Rangers manager search: Davide Ancelotti, Danny Rohl, Rob Edwards, Russell Martin & more”
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Daily Record, “Davide Ancelotti to Rangers RECAP”
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talkSPORT, quoted in Glasgow World, “Barry Ferguson breaks silence on Davide Ancelotti to Rangers rumours”
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Daily Record, “Truth behind the next Rangers manager search”
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67hailhail.com, “Ally McCoist’s laughable comparison of Celtic hero Ange Postecoglou and Rangers-linked Davide Ancelotti”
