Former Man City star ‘shortlisted by Rangers’ following decision to sack Michael Beale

A former Manchester City star is said to be in the running for the Rangers job.

Rangers are looking for a new boss after deciding to move on from Michael Beale, who was signed from Queens Park Rangers last November, and he failed to beat Celtic last season. This season, Rangers have picked up 12 points from their opening seven games, seven behind their biggest rivals.

Beale was fired after a disappointing start and they are now looking for a replacement to turn things around.

According to Glasgow World, Gers drew up a shortlist of three players early in the process and that list included former Man City midfielder Frank Lampard. The Chelsea legend most recently spent a miserable stay at Stamford Bridge after playing for Everton, Chelsea and Derby County.

Also under consideration is Kevin Muscat, a former Rangers and Millwall player who is now coach of Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan after spells in Belgium and his native Australia.

Last but not least, former Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder is also expected to settle in after a brief spell with Watford last season, arriving late in the campaign. Wilder had a successful spell with the Blades, but then disappointed at Middlesbrough before leaving that role in 2022.

Rangers are said to want to avoid rushing a nomination and they could still add more candidates to their initial three-candidate shortlist. Particularly in the case of Lampard and Wilder, both will be keen to regain control after recent disappointing seasons.

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The Gers have wrapped up Beale’s return to Ibrox less than a year after he arrived from Queens Park Rangers.

The search for Beale’s replacement is underway, but some will wonder how he got the job ahead of other managers last year…

Rangers clearly believe Beale’s previous knowledge of the club will help him at Ibrox.

Beale was Steven Gerrard’s assistant and they won the league title together in 2021.

Beale followed Gerrard to Aston Villa and then became QPR boss before returning to Rangers. This was always going to be a gamble for Rangers given Beale’s lack of managerial experience, especially with more proven options in the squad.

Scotland’s Daily Express report that Rangers have Peter Bosz at the top of their wishlist to replace Giovanni van Bronckhorst in 2022.

Bosz had left Lyon just a month earlier and appeared to be identified as a possible replacement for Van Bronckhorst.

Rangers eventually selected Beale and saw Bosz knock out his Gers side in the Champions League play-offs in August.

Rangers may want Bosz to take charge of the job he currently holds at PSV. The Dutchman replaced Ruud van Nistelrooy at the helm of PSV this summer after finishing seven points behind champions Feyenoord.

Bosz and PSV are currently top of the Eredivisie table and have won every match so far this season.

Seven wins out of seven matches, scoring 23 goals, conceding only two goals; PSV are on fire at the start of the campaign.

Bosz is certainly out of reach for Rangers at the moment, but the Gers just need to find a manager who can make such an impact to replace Beale.