Rangers are finalising a deal to appoint Russell Martin as their new head coach. The 39-year-old former Southampton manager will be installed in the Ibrox hotseat in the next 48 hours, barring any last-minute hitches, on a three-year deal.
The appointment of a new man at the helm is the latest in a series of major changes at the club. An American consortium led by Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises secured a majority shareholding on Friday and the new sporting director, Kevin Thelwell, officially began work on Monday, when he said that the recruitment of a new head coach would come to a conclusion “in the coming days”.
Outgoing Real Madrid assistant manager Davide Ancelotti, son of Carlo Ancelotti, and Martin were the two frontrunners for the post, vacated by Philippe Clement in February, with the former Rangers captain Barry Ferguson taking over to the end of the season, which ended without a trophy.
Quick GuideInzaghi joins Al-Hilal as Fábregas plays down Inter links
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Simone Inzaghi has been appointed coach of Al-Hilal, the Saudi Pro League side announced on Wednesday. The Italian left Inter on Tuesday after the side’s humiliating 5-0 loss in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain last Saturday, and has quickly taken on another managerial job.
The Saudi club did not immediately disclose any details about Inzaghi’s contract, but Italian media reported that it could be worth up to €30m (£25.3m) per season. Inzaghi’s first task will be to take charge of Al-Hilal at the Club World Cup in the US; they will face Real Madrid on 18 June in their group opener.
Earlier on Wednesday, Cesc Fàbregas pledged his immediate managerial future to Como amid speculation that the Spaniard is Inter’s main target to replace Inzaghi.
The former Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea midfielder has attracted the attention of several top clubs after leading promoted Como to 10th place in Serie A.
‘I really believe in Como’s long-term project, I arrived here as a player and I’m very, very happy because I can work here the way I want,” Fàbregas, who is also a shareholder in the club he manages, said at the SXSW (South By Southwest) conference in London. Italian media have reported that Inter want to speak to Fàbregas after Inzaghi left by mutual agreement on Tuesday. Reuters
However, it is Martin, the former MK Dons and Swansea manager who had a short loan spell as a player at Rangers in 2018, who will be tasked with wrestling the power back from the other side of the city where Celtic this season won their 13th Premiership title in 14 seasons and have a stranglehold on Scottish football.
The former Scotland international brought Southampton up to the Premier League through the playoffs in 2024 but was sacked in December as they headed back towards the Championship with one win from their first 16 games.
