Derek McInnes has been introduced as the new manager for Rangers, expressing his conviction that he “belongs” at Ibrox. He has also stated his clear intention to secure the Scottish Premiership title as quickly as possible. The 54-year-old manager takes over following the departure of Danny Röhl, who moved to RB Salzburg.
McInnes, a former player for Rangers from 1995 to 2000, supported the club as a boy. He mentioned that the opportunity to manage Rangers this summer came as a surprise. He nearly led Hearts to a league title last season, and now feels the timing is right to return to Ibrox.
“It’s a very special moment for myself, my family, there’s a lot of people I can think of on a day like this,” McInnes commented. He added that having known and supported the club for a long time, he is fully aware of the responsibilities that come with the managerial role. McInnes conveyed his excitement and readiness for the challenge, stating, “I feel as if I belong here and I’m ready to get going with it and looking forward to just getting started.”
The new manager highlighted the need to deliver a team that meets the demands of the club’s supporters. He acknowledged that Rangers fans have experienced a long period with only one title in 15 years, and it is now his team’s role to elevate standards and ensure a winning Rangers team is on the pitch more frequently. McInnes has a clear vision for his team, hoping it aligns with the fans’ expectations.
Ambition for Domestic Success
McInnes is the 22nd permanent manager for Rangers and the seventh appointment in eight years, following a period with limited title and trophy success. As a player, he was a treble winner with the club, giving him insight into the high expectations at Ibrox. He stressed that he is back at the club with a clear objective: to win.
He acknowledged that many managers make promises on their first day, but emphasized that actions are more important than words. “There’s work to be done here but we’re going to do it well,” McInnes stated, highlighting the ongoing efforts in player recruitment for the upcoming season. He believes that playing for Rangers requires more than just being a good player; it demands the ability to handle significant expectations.
McInnes is confident that with the resources and infrastructure available, along with the support from the club’s leadership, Rangers should be a winning team. He sees this opportunity as his best chance to achieve success. “I’m not kidded, I know if we don’t win trophies it’ll be somebody else sitting here before too long but I come here with the confidence that, with the resource we’ve got, with the infrastructure in place and the support I’ve got from the people above us, that this should be a winning Rangers team and this is a club that should be winning.”
During his tenure at Hearts, McInnes’s team was noted for its attacking play and resilience in challenging matches. He aims to instill a similar approach at Rangers, focusing on domestic success. “The job here is to win, I’m not going to talk about philosophies,” he declared. He wants his team to impose themselves on opponents and ensure that visiting teams do not feel comfortable at Ibrox. “We’ve got to make teams really struggle when they play against us, we’ve got to make them suffer and we’ve got to try and play in a manner which allows us to do that.”
Player Recruitment and Expectations
Rangers have already secured the signing of Lawrence Shankland, who was captain at Hearts under McInnes. The manager insists that any new players joining the club must embrace the responsibility of meeting the high expectations at Ibrox. He believes players should sign for Rangers with the primary goal of winning trophies and being successful.
Shankland himself expressed his pleasure at reuniting with McInnes. The forward joined his boyhood club before heading to the FIFA World Cup in North America. He noted that he was pleased to learn that McInnes would be in the dugout for his Gers career. Shankland is currently focused on Scotland’s performance in the World Cup, where they are in a strong position to advance after an opening matchday victory over Haiti.
McInnes acknowledged that the club might not acquire every player they desire in the transfer window, but emphasized the importance of using their available budget wisely. He also believes that there are existing players in the squad capable of more, and it is the coaching staff’s role to unlock that potential. While changes in the squad are possible, every incoming player is expected to contribute significantly.
The manager highlighted that Rangers showed periods of strong individual play last season, but his goal is to foster a more cohesive team unit to secure wins in tight matches. He noted that there were too many draws last season, and his focus is on changing that trend. “It’s not words that are going to do it, it’s actions, it’s day to day, it’s standards, it’s driving the pace of it all, but working with good players is going to be the key part of it and players who really will enjoy being here and being successful.”
Rangers CEO Jim Gillespie confirmed that the decision for Danny Röhl to leave was the club’s, driven by the desire to bring in McInnes, who had been identified as a candidate to bring success. McInnes was on holiday in Florida when Rangers first contacted him, shortly after a disappointing end to the season with Hearts. He believes that managing Rangers offers him the best opportunity to win titles.
The first league fixture for Rangers will be against Dundee United.
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Source: skysports.com
Niamh Pendlebury is the Sports Reporter at NewsGB.org, covering tennis, cricket and athletics with seven years of reporting experience. She reported on Team GB and the county circuit. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from the University of Central Lancashire and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Preston, she plays club tennis and follows road running. “The best interviews come from patience, not pressure.”