Rangers Next Manager: Huge Names Among 15 Favourites to Replace Russell Martin
Robin Mumford is a features writer for GiveMeSport. He joined in April 2024, having previously worked at VAVEL as Deputy Editor-in-Chief, where he produced a variety of content, including pieces from press conferences and games, and won an award for his role as lead-editor for the Women’s Football section of the online newspaper.
Covering football all across Europe, he has worked at stadiums such as Anfield, Old Trafford, and Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park, as well as having reported at both the 2023 men’s and women’s Champions League finals in Eindhoven and Istanbul.
He is infatuated with every aspect of football, but likes other sports as well, being an avid coffee-desperate Buffalo Bills supporter from across the pond and a darts newbie.
The odds for Rangers’ next manager have emerged following Russell Martin’s dismissal on Sunday night. A club statement confirmed the decision within hours after a 1-1 draw with Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership, with the former Southampton boss requiring a police escort to get him out of the stadium safely.
This marks their worst start to a league season in 47 years. But with the 39-year-old now out of the picture, BetVictor, courtesy of the Glasgow Times, have released the odds on who could replace him.
Rangers’ Next Manager Odds
Rangers manager Russell Martin
10. Gareth Southgate – 33/1
Since suffering a second successive European Championship final defeat last summer with England, Gareth Southgate has been out of work. But make no mistake – what he brings to any side in world football is a feel-good factor, something Rangers seem to have forgotten exists right now.
A highly sought-after head coach, with the likes of Manchester United constantly circling in between their failed experiments at Old Trafford, the sense is that Rangers would need to move quickly in pitching their project to one of the Three Lions’ all-time greats if they were to have any chance of tempting him back into management.
9. Frank Lampard – 33/1
With his knack for developing young talent, Frank Lampard has found his footing in the Championship, after stints at Everton and Chelsea were overshadowed by external issues with club ownership. Week by week, the iconic Englishman is honing his coaching skills.
A big name doesn’t always guarantee big results, but at present, no former England international of the 21st century is making a better go of management than Lampard – who, like Gerrard, could excel at Rangers. Whether he is willing to let go of his mantle at Coventry City, who sit top of the Championship right now, is another thing.
Coventry City boss Frank Lampard celebrating
8. Michael Carrick – 25/1
Whilst fondly remembered as one of the most underrated players in Premier League history, Michael Carrick’s time at the helm of Middlesbrough ended with a fizzle after having shown so much promise last term. It’s that fast burn that could either prompt the Rangers’ hierarchy to turn their nose up at him or give him a chance to prove he can find some sort of consistency.
The former Manchester United midfielder would bring calm leadership and collaborative decision-making, focusing on intricate tactical systems like positional rotations and exploiting space. With a possession-based style, he has all the brains to make it far in management, it’s just whether the Scottish giants are willing to give him the time to achieve that.
7. Gary O’Neil – 25/1
Former Liverpool academy coach Gary O’Neil implemented strategies that emphasised defensive resilience, quick transitions, and calculated build-up play during stints at both Wolves and Bournemouth. But having fallen foul to owners that had outgrown his structured ideologies and moved on to exuberant new styles, he’s looking for somewhere that will buy into his simple-yet-effective school of thought.
Like Martin, O’Neil is a well-meaning manager, but with a far greater conviction in how his teams should play. That self-assurance could make him the shrewdest appointment the Gers could make over the international break. Having not managed since December last year, he arrives refreshed and ready for a new challenge, and his strong belief in incremental progress through marginal gains could spark a dramatic upturn in results between now and season’s end.
Gary O’Neil
6. Barry Ferguson – 16/1
Barry Ferguson stands out as a compelling candidate for the vacant Rangers managerial role, mostly due to his unparalleled club legacy. As a former captain and record-holding player, he won 13 major trophies, embodying the Gers’ winning ethos. His recent interim stint showcased his ability as they went on a four-game unbeaten streak to kick things off, while his passion is beyond doubt.
Though lower-league experience tempers expectations, Ferguson’s deep-rooted Ibrox knowledge could swiftly restore pride and stability amid the post-Martin turmoil. A caveat, however, is that his tactics can feel somewhat reactive rather than proactive, and a lack of identity could mean his stint is successful but very short-lived.
5. Danny Rohl – 8/1
At just 36, Danny Rohl’s rapid rise, honed under elite mentors like Hansi Flick and Julian Nagelsmann, makes him a unicorn for overachievement on limited budgets. His availability since departing Sheffield Wednesday in late July 2025 – amid the club’s ownership turmoil – positions him as a realistic target. Given that this would be just his second managerial role, however, it shows it’s also a high-risk, high-reward scenario.
4. Derek McInnes – 5/1
All but two years of Derek McInnes’ 18-year managerial career have been spent in Scotland, and with him knowing the ins and outs so well he could almost do the job blindfolded, he looks a strong candidate for the 49ers ownership group.
That said, having only taken over at Hearts this summer, a move so soon into his new role could risk tarnishing his reputation – particularly if things don’t go as smoothly as he hopes.
3. Steven Gerrard – 2/1
Former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard, who led the club from 2018 to 2021 before moving to Aston Villa, is currently the third favourite to take over Martin’s position – arguably the appointment that would make the most sense.
The Liverpool icon was most recently head coach at Saudi side Al-Ettifaq, a stint that lasted 18 months and ended in late January. During his time at Rangers, Gerrard won the league title in 2021 and remains the last manager to do so at Ibrox. That season, he led the Gers to back-to-back derby victories over Celtic and guided them to the championship without losing a single game, amassing 102 points while conceding just 13 goals in the league.
Rangers Gerrard Trophy
2. Sean Dyche – 7/4
Route-one football might not align with what supporters inside Ibrox would want to see from their team, but it could be exactly what they need in uncertain times like these.
Before his stint at Everton, where the gravel-voiced helmsman was constantly embroiled in relegation battles, Sean Dyche made his name at Watford and then during a highly successful ten-year spell at Burnley from 2012 to 2022, guiding them to Europa League football against all odds. His style of play might not be easy on the eye, but it’s ruthlessly effective in delivering results.
1. Kevin Muscat – 6/4
Kevin Muscat, who played for Rangers between 2002 and 2003, is a name that often comes up among Gers fans when discussing the next manager. The only footballer ever deemed too violent to feature in the Old Firm derby, and the only player to genuinely scare Peter Crouch. he’s currently 6/4 favourite for the role.
Yokohama F. Marinos manager Kevin Muscat
At present, he manages Shanghai Port in China’s Super League and has a strong reputation following successful spells in Australia and Japan. It’s believed Muscat was on the final shortlist for the Rangers job last year, before the club opted for Belgian Philippe Clement. See the full odds for Rangers’ next manager below:
Rangers’ Next Manager Odds
Rank
Manager
Odds
15.
Marco Rose
33/1
14.
Brian Friske
33/1
13.
Steven Davis
33/1
12.
Kasper Hjulmand
33/1
11.
Issame Charai
33/1
10.
Gareth Southgate
33/1
9.
Frank Lampard
33/1
8.
Michael Carrick
25/1
7.
Gary O’Neil
25/1
6.
Barry Ferguson
16/1
5.
Danny Rohl
8/1
4.
Derek McInnes
5/1
3.
Steven Gerrard
2/1
2.
Sean Dyche
7/4
1.
Kevin Muscat
6/4
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