Paraag Marathe, President of 49ers Enterprises, is walking the Elland Road pitch before the Sky Bet Championship match between Leeds United and Southampton at Elland Road in Leeds, on May 4, 2024. (Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
# Rangers Fans Poised for Bold Move After Spotting Mourinho with Marathe
**Glasgow, September 8, 2025** – In a twist that has sent shockwaves through Scottish football, Jose Mourinho was reportedly spotted in Glasgow alongside Rangers vice-chairman Paraag Marathe, fueling wild speculation among fans that the club is on the verge of a managerial coup. The sighting, which surfaced on social media and fan forums late last week, comes amid mounting pressure on current boss Russell Martin, whose tenure has been marred by a dismal start to the season.
Rangers, under new American ownership led by 49ers Enterprises, have drawn their opening four Premiership matches and suffered a humiliating 6-0 aggregate defeat to Club Brugge in the Champions League playoffs. Banners of dissent at Ibrox and boos from the stands have turned the heat up on Martin, who has won just three of his first 10 games. Supporters’ fury reached boiling point after Sunday’s goalless draw with rivals Celtic, with many demanding immediate change.
Enter Mourinho, the self-proclaimed “Special One,” who was sacked by Fenerbahce last month after failing to qualify for the Champions League. The 62-year-old Portuguese legend has long admired Scottish football’s passion, once telling reporters ahead of a Europa League clash with Rangers: “It’s a league of passion. And for me, passion in football is everything.” He didn’t rule out managing in Glasgow, adding, “Why not in the future?”
The Marathe connection adds intrigue. As president of 49ers Enterprises and a key figure in Rangers’ takeover, Marathe has been hands-on since the American consortium’s arrival. Sources close to the club suggest the pair’s meeting – possibly at a discreet Glasgow hotel – was no coincidence, with discussions centering on Mourinho’s availability and his potential to inject winning mentality into Ibrox. Betting odds have shifted dramatically, with Mourinho now at 5/4 to take the reins, leapfrogging other candidates.
Fan reactions have been electric. On X (formerly Twitter), posts exploded with calls to “sack Martin now” and memes of Mourinho’s iconic swagger marching down Edmiston Drive. One supporter tweeted: “Spotted Jose with Paraag? That’s it, the decision’s made. Time to bring the Special One home!” Ally McCoist, a Rangers legend, backed the idea on talkSPORT, saying Mourinho could “turn this around overnight,” though he warned of the hefty payout required.
Critics like ex-Chelsea defender William Gallas dismissed the move, calling Rangers “too small” for Mourinho’s ambitions. Yet, with Marathe’s track record at Leeds United – where he navigated tough decisions – the board seems unafraid of bold risks. As one fan forum post put it: “We’re about to stun the world. Mourinho at Ibrox? Game on.”
If the whispers are true, this could be the stunning decision Rangers fans have craved – a return to glory under a serial winner. The coming days will reveal if passion trumps pragmatism.