Rangers Next Manager: 15 Favourites to Replace Russell Martin After Gerrard Snub
Russell Martin well-meaning management had delivered a historically poor start to the Scottish Premiership campaign. Rangers have won just once after their first seven league matches, recording one win, five draws, and a loss – just eight points from a possible 21. This marks their worst start to a league season in 47 years, leaving the 49ers’ ownership scrambling for a new helmsman over the international break.
With Martin out of the picture, it initially looked as though former league title-winning boss Steven Gerrard was in line for a bombshell return. However, he has turned his former side down, feeling that the time isn’t right. What’s more, Frank Lampard has also pulled out of discussions, content with life at the top of the Championship table with Coventry City.
With that in mind, a new set of odds has been released, as per Oddschecker.
Rangers’ Next Manager Odds
Rangers manager Russell Martin
10. Mark van Bommel – 16/1
Mark van Bommel’s intense leadership, tactical acumen, and winning mentality make him an ideal Rangers boss. His successful stint at PSV Eindhoven, securing the Eredivisie title, showcases his ability to manage high-pressure environments – something that is surely a must considering the turmoil they currently find themselves in.
The Dutchman’s disciplined, attacking style aligns with Rangers’ ambitions, while his experience as a combative midfielder ensures he commands respect, fostering a strong, competitive squad ready to dominate Scottish football in a similar fashion as Gerrard did, as 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 during the 2020/2021 campaign.
Mark van Bommel
9. Bruno Lage – 16/1
A proven winner with Benfica’s 2018/19 Primeira Liga title-winning side, having boasted a 94 per cent win rate in his debut campaign, Bruno Lage excels in dominating smaller leagues, which aligns perfectly with Rangers’ desires of returning to the top of Scottish football.
During the early stages of his tenure with Wolves, his high-pressing, attacking “Bruno-ball” style transformed the Old Gold, earning praise for his fluid 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 play. It’s these instant rewards that could quickly get Rangers out of their current predicament, but history tells his employers that Lage has a habit of not being able to maintain consistency over several years, meaning his appointment would be just a temporary fix.
8. Kieran McKenna – 11/1
A manager that knows how to build a culture and could be a good long-term solution is beloved Ipswich Town head coach Kieran McKenna. Against all odds, he guided the Tractor Boys to promotion into the Premier League and did a fairly good job at fighting against relegation on such a limited budget.
One issue the Rangers’ hierarchy may face is pitching their project to him, given that he had previously rejected advances made by Manchester United.
Kieran McKenna
7. Stephen Robinson – 10/1
Stephen Robinson could be a smart choice for the Rangers job, bringing proven Scottish Premiership expertise from his successful spells at Motherwell – where he reached the 2017 League Cup final after beating Rangers – and at St Mirren, where he delivered three consecutive top-six finishes, secured European qualification in 2024, and earned a new contract until 2028, all on shoestring budgets.
That kind of Scottish know-how could serve a manager with progressive qualities well. And while Rangers have been cycling through a series of short-term, fast-burning appointments, what they may need now is someone who can keep evolving – and stay for the long haul.
6. Barry Ferguson – 10/1
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. Gary O’Neil – 8/1
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
4. Graham Potter – 8/1
After such a promising spell as Brighton & Hove Albion boss, Graham Potter hasn’t managed to replicate that success in his last two roles – with Chelsea and West Ham. The fact that he finds himself so high in the betting odds, despite recording just a 28 per cent win rate with the latter before being sacked this season, might be a real concern for the Ibrox faithful.
He’s a well-known name, sure – but can he truly be relied upon when his only real success came at a club that seems to get the best out of every manager who passes through? You wouldn’t bet your bottom dollar on it, that’s for sure.
3. Derek McInnes – 8/1
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.
2. Kevin Muscat – 6/1
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 6/1 second 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.
1. Danny Rohl – 4/5
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. He is currently the favourite the position despite this fact, though. See the full odds for Rangers’ next manager below:
Rangers’ Next Manager Odds
Rank
Manager
Odds
15.
Michael Carrick
20/1
14.
Sean Dyche
20/1
13.
Roger Schmidt
16/1
12.
Slaven Bilic
16/1
11.
Ralph Hasenhuttl
16/1
10.
Mark van Bommel
16/1
9.
Bruno Lage
16/1
8.
Kieran McKenna
11/1
7.
Stephen Robinson
10/1
6.
Barry Ferguson
10/1
5.
Gary O’Neil
8/1
4.
Graham Potter
8/1
3.
Derek McInnes
8/1
2.
Kevin Muscat
6/1
1.
Danny Rohl
4/5
About the Author
