Rangers manager latest: fans make it clear who they DON’T want… | OneFootball

When the idea emerged of someone new potentially managing Rangers, it was like a sudden and dramatic twist that no one anticipated. What were those in charge considering? Rangers supporters have endured a lot with the chopping and changing of managers, so the mere mention of a new one naturally provokes discussion. But Rafa Benitez? Even the idea of him coaching at Ibrox appears to be a non-starter for most Rangers supporters. They see him almost like someone who was once the manager of their bitter rival, the kind of manager who could maybe one day go back and lead the blue half of Glasgow—in their wildest dreams.

In a recent Ibrox Noise poll he was rock bottom by a mile!

The mere suggestion of Rafa managing Rangers has been met with angry reactions from the Ibrox faithful. The Spaniard carries too much baggage for their liking. Sure, he had some success during his time with Liverpool, but he left behind a good deal of discord and discontent. And then there was his stint at Newcastle and Everton—a spell marked by mixed results, which do not resonate well with Rangers supporters. They want someone who has the club at heart and who would feel like a true Blue walking into Fortress Ibrox.

And, let’s face it: absolutely nobody among the Rangers faithful seems to be of the opinion that Benitez could come close to achieving what Gerrard did in a comparatively short space of time. Benitez is something of an anomaly in world football, being perhaps the most famous proponent of a style that might best be described as ‘safety over adventure,’ using the ball rather than carrying it, and never seeming to have a team that plays with real freedom or dynamism. Can you imagine him trying to get across to his players the kind of message that would serve to inspire them on one of those famed cold nights at Ibrox? It doesn’t compute.

Moreover, the dismissal symbolizes the faith Rangers now place in their internal resources and their homegrown pipeline. With a hugely influential figure like Steven Gerrard having already paraded the touchline with a certain amount of success before getting his move to Aston Villa, there’s a lot of belief that another homegrown figure can come in and have an immediate impact. If not, Rangers also have a development squad of talented young coaches, some of whom are already working with the first team. Thus, bringing in someone like Rafa is deemed unnecessary by both fans and the club’s hierarchy.

So, while it might be the case that Benitez still has a lot to offer the world of football, Ibrox seems like it’s not going to be a venue for that. The fans are just not having it. They might be some of the most unyielding and demanding in all of football, but to them, this is a matter of being true to themselves. They want someone in the dugout who they can identify with, who they can look to when times get tough, and who will lead the charge in trying to take back what they believe is rightfully theirs—the dominance of Scottish football.