Almost a year on from his departure as Rangers head coach, Michael Beale has been discussing his time at Ibrox in depth on the Mindset For Sport podcast.
Sacked in October 2023, Beale’s stint as Gers boss was judged a disaster in the eyes of many supporters, with the 38-year-old head coach a full seven points behind rivals Celtic when he was sacked just two months into the new campaign. It was a complete contrast to his first spell at the club, he helped Rangers to their memorable 55th league title as the club’s first team coach under Steven Gerrard.
Much of his spell at the main man at Ibrox was blamed on his poor recruitment, with many of his big summer signings falling completely flat in a summer that produced more flops than successes. However, under new boss Philippe Clement, some of Beale’s purchases that have proven to be real steady additions.
In total, there were 11 players who came through the doors at Ibrox during the his reign, but who offered Rangers the most - and who offered next to nothing at all?
Here we rank each Rangers player signed by Beale from worst to best and ask - where are they now?
5. Todd Cantwell
The curious case of Mr Cantwell. There were times last season when the playmaker looked like he was finally recapturing some of the form that resulting in him being linked with big money move in his younger days - but it was a short and sweet run of form that ended abruptly. Outside of one 3-0 win over Celtic, he's underperformed in almost every one of Rangers' big games and has now demanded a transfer out of Ibrox. It could, and should, have went so much better than it has, but it's now a bit of a mess that has left Gers fans with a bitter taste in their mouth. It's maddening that a player with as much talent as Cantwell will be remembered more for his public spats with Chris Sutton on social media than anything he did on the pitch with the Gers. | Getty Images Photo: Getty Images
6. Nicolas Raskin
The Belgian youngster has shown some real positive signs that he can be a big player for Rangers since joining the club in January 2023. However, he has not been able to show it consistently due to injury and patchy form. There's more than enough time for him to show why he was brought to the club, but it's a move that could currently be viewed either way. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group
7. Leon Balogun
The ex-head coach took him to Queens Park Rangers when he managed there, and returned to Loftus Road a year later to return him back to Ibrox - then never played him. Why? Nobody really knows. Far more prominent in the team under Philippe Clement, Balogun is a reliable, experienced defender that Rangers are able to rely on. Shame he is 36 and his fitness needs to be managed as such, because he's an excellent defender on his day. Just don't tell Michael Beale. | Getty Images Photo: Getty Images
8. Cyriel Dessers
Who could have guessed he would be this far up the list after that disastrous start to his Rangers career? While he still frustrates more than he delights, Dessers' numbers are as good as any in recent years. Still seemingly capable of missing an open goal but scoring a 30-yard bicycle kick, Dessers is a fascinating case study. However, perhaps the most admirable thing about the 29-year-old is his mindset. Many other forwards would have fallen apart under the weight of the Ibrox pressure cooker after his terrible start, but he has bounced back - and continues to bounce back - when the going gets tough. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group