Former Rangers bosses in line for surprise return to football as ex-coach 'expected' to nab EPL position
Former Rangers men surprise front runners for vacant managerial roles.
Two former Rangers bosses have been tipped for a surprise return to the dugout after shooting to the top of the shortlist for vacant roles over the weekend.
Philippe Clement and his successor Russell Martin have both been out of work since their departures from Ibrox in the last year, but could be set to make a return to management after being named amongst the list of favourites for two vacant roles over the weekend.
Perhaps the most surprising link of the two is that of head coach Clement. Sacked by Rangers in February following a 2-0 home defeat to St Mirren, the 51-year-old has emerged as one of the frontrunners for the manager’s job at Ajax, after the Dutch giant’s decision to sack former Liverpool assistant John Heitinga less than six months after his arrival from Anfield last week.
Currently 11 points adrift of league leaders PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch top flight, Ajax opted to cut ties with the 41-year-old after just 12 league games, and Belgian boss Clement has been immediately installed as one of the leading names in the frame to take over at the Johan Cruyff Arena. Former Manchester United and Ajax manager Erik ten Hag is also thought to be in the running for a shock return, while interim boss Fred Grim will battle it out with the duo to be named as the permanent head coach of the Eredivisie outfit.
Elsewhere, much-maligned ex-Ibrox head coach Martin is also in line to make his return to management, little over a month on from his departure from Rangers. Appointed as head coach of the Gers in the summer, the 39-year-old lasted just 123 days in his role, with the Light Blues slumped into the bottom half of the Scottish Premiership table, with just one win from his seven league games in charge.
Martin is now named as the 2/1 favourite to be named as the new Norwich City boss, following their decision to sack Liam Manning after the 2-1 home defeat to Leicester City at the weekend left them second bottom of the EFL Championship table. According to Sky Sports, the Canaries board is keen to open talks with their former captain in order to ‘gauge his appetite for the job’. Fellow former Norwich man Gary O’Neil is also said to be in the frame for the role.
Meanwhile, former Rangers first-team coach Harry Watling is expected to join Middlesbrough manager Rod Edwards in joining struggling English Premier League outfit Wolverhampton Wanderers this week. The 35-year-old spent almost a year as first team coach at Ibrox, forming part of the Glasgow giants’ backroom team under Michael Beale, but departed the club alongside the former boss following a dismal 3-1 home defeat to Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership in October 2023.
Watling then spent a short time as manager of English non-league outfit Ebbsfleet United in September 2024, but left after just three months in the role. He joined Middlesbrough this summer, but looks to depart after relegation-threatened Wolves struck up a deal with the Teesside outfit over the weekend that will see Edwards leave his role at the Riverside Stadium after just 140 days, with the former Luton Town manager hopeful of taking Watling with him.
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