News Focus
- Derek McInnes joins Rangers FC on a three-year contract as the new manager
- He replaces Danny Röhl, who left the Scottish club to join RB Salzburg this week
- McInnes departs Heart of Midlothian after guiding them to second place in the Scottish Premiership
- The 54-year-old previously played for Rangers between 1995 and 2000
- He brings three assistants with him, including Alan Archibald and Paul Sheerin
Rangers FC have named Derek McInnes as their new manager. The Scottish coach has signed a three-year agreement with the Glasgow club.
McInnes arrives from Heart of Midlothian, where he spent just one season. During that time, he led the Edinburgh side to second position in the Scottish Premiership. They finished only behind Celtic and eight points clear of Rangers in third place.
He takes charge at Ibrox following the departure of Danny Röhl. The German coach left Scotland earlier this week to become head coach at Austrian club RB Salzburg after less than eight months in the role.
This appointment brings McInnes back to a familiar place. He wore the Rangers shirt as a midfielder between 1995 and 2000. Interestingly, he turned down the opportunity to manage the club several years ago while he was in charge at Aberdeen.
McInnes will not work alone. He brings a team of three assistants with him. Alan Archibald, Paul Sheerin and Craig Clark will all form part of the new backroom staff at the club.
The new manager expressed his happiness about the move. “It is a real honour to become the manager of Rangers,” he said. “I grew up as a supporter of this club. I am certain that now is the right time to take on this important job.”
He also spoke about the pressure of the position. “Our supporters rightly have high expectations. It is my job, along with my staff and players, to meet those expectations. We must have this club performing as it should.”
Andrew Cavenagh, the chairman of Rangers, welcomed the appointment. He stated that the board has always rated McInnes very highly. “His deep knowledge of Scottish football and Rangers is vital for us. He knows how to win in this league,” Cavenagh explained.
Heart of Midlothian have confirmed that Rangers paid compensation for McInnes and his coaches. The club thanked them for their work and stated that they understood his decision to pursue this opportunity.
The Edinburgh club also announced that they have already started searching for a new manager. They hope to make an appointment quickly.
McInnes faces a significant challenge at Rangers. The club has won the Scottish Premiership title only once since 2011. During that same period, they have claimed just one Scottish Cup and one League Cup.
Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd believes McInnes is the right choice. “He has shown that he is a top operator in Scottish football,” Boyd said. “He was very unlucky last season with Hearts. He knows how to build squads that can challenge for trophies.”
Boyd added that the squad needs new players. “Rangers need a major overhaul this summer. They need five or six new signings. McInnes has always made the best use of his budget at previous clubs.”
The club has already started rebuilding the team. Scotland international Lawrence Shankland has joined from Heart of Midlothian on a free transfer. He scored 20 goals last season and has signed a two-year deal with an option for a further year.