Latest news with #ex-Ger
Scottish Sun
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
I spoke to Rafa Benitez about the Rangers job, he would have been interested if Gers considered him says ex-Ibrox star
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RANGERS finally named Russell Martin as the permanent successor to Philippe Clement last week. It was after months of speculation over who the next Gers boss would be - and a former Rangers star has revealed he spoke to legendary manager Rafa Benitez about the opening. 3 A former Rangers star has revealed he spoke to Rafa Benitez about the vacancy at Ibrox Credit: Getty 3 The ex-Ger said he felt that the Spaniard would have been interested if Rangers got in touch Credit: AP 3 Gregory Vignal had a season-long loan at Ibrox in the Helicopter Sunday title-winning season Credit: Kenny Ramsay - The Sun Glasgow Gregory Vignal spent a season on loan at Ibrox in 2004/05, playing 42 times as a member of the famous league title-winning Helicopter Sunday team. The 43-year-old also had a two-month spell with Dundee United in 2012, but didn't make a single appearance as his career wound down with injury. Vignal was loaned to Ibrox from Liverpool, where he met Benitez, and remains in touch with the Spaniard despite never playing a game under him. And the Frenchman told the Daily Record that, in a recent meeting with the 65-year-old, they discussed the prospect of the Rangers gig, which was still vacant at the time. Vignal said: "I met Rafa in Liverpool and we spoke about the Rangers job before Russell got it. "He's not working at a club right now, he's with Uefa. "But if Rangers would have considered him? Of course he would have been interested. "I also spoke to Steven [Gerrard] and joked with him. "I asked if he'd got his apartment in Glasgow ready! "All of those types of guys have been in the game a long time so I have to listen to them and be really humble." Rangers fans react to news Russell Martin is their new manager Vignal is currently an assistant to Viktors Morozs with Latvian champions RFS, and reckons the team he has there would finish in the top THREE in the Scottish Premiership. He said: "Honestly, RFS would finish in the top three of the Scottish Premiership, I'm telling you, of course they would. "People there might be surprised but it's true, we are good enough to be in the top three in Scotland. "Even in my last job at Versailles, it was bigger than a lot of jobs in Scotland - and that was the French third tier. "We had a £6million budget and for games against Red Star FC in Paris, we had a crowd of around 12,000 people at the game. "So the job I had there, if you compare with some clubs in Scotland, it was bigger." Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Glasgow Times
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Dave King issues Rangers manager warning to new owners
The former chairman suggested Steven Gerrard was the "obvious" choice for the role, having previously worked with him during his first spell as boss. However, Gerrard, 45, withdrew from the running due to family commitments, leaving Russel Martin and Davide Ancelotti as the main candidates, with Francesco Farioli also in consideration. Of the three, only Martin, a former Scotland international, has experience in the Scottish game, having had a short stint at Ibrox as a player. King strongly implied that appointing someone without experience in Scottish football would be a significant risk, although he expressed confidence in the new US owners' ability to "manage" the risk effectively. Read more: Dave King reveals Rangers almost had Saudi owners before 49ers deal Russell Martin's style suits Rangers as ex-Ger busts myth Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "If I look at who is available for the club, I think it's quite a challenge for them because when you're bringing in a new manager, I refer to the Glasgow environment. "Some people think that's a little bit unfair, but certainly in my experience, Mark Warburton and others all thought they got the Glasgow thing. "But until you get to Glasgow, you don't get the Glasgow thing. "Even someone like Steven (Gerrard) who came from Liverpool, where you think is closer to the Glasgow thing. "Once you come in and you're managing one of the two big clubs in Glasgow... you can try and think you understand it and you can speak to people who have been there before, but until you actually get in there you don't really get it. "So, I think that's the factor that I would be wary of and I think the 49ers will consider bringing in a European manager that's got no experience of Scottish football at all. "That's going to go from Champions League qualifiers to going off to the north of Scotland on a drab, wet, windy Wednesday evening and have to motivate your players and try and get a result."
The National
02-06-2025
- Sport
- The National
Postecoglou 'cherishes' Celtic days and still watches games
Things haven't gone swimmingly for the Aussie since his move to Tottenham and he may well be facing the sack, so it would be easy to forgive him for pining after his trophy-laden Hoops days. And those moments still have a special place in his heart. So says former Hibs boss Nick Montgomery, now working as part of Postecoglou's backroom staff at Spurs. He says the coaching team are always watching games in the background and the 59-year--old has been delighted to see Brendan Rodgers carry on his success. 'Ange loved his time at Celtic,' Montgomery claimed. 'I think he cherishes those times at Celtic, it's a massive club. Read more: Why Russell Martin's style is suited for Rangers as ex-Ger busts myth Ex-Celtic captain on why Parkhead fans won't allow an American buyout 'It's used to winning and when you go in there the pressure is on that you continue that trend and you have to win. 'Probably, people doubted him but Ange managed to do that. He's always watching the Celtic games and the A-League games and the Japanese games. 'We always have them on in the coach's office. He obviously really enjoyed his time there and no doubt he's really happy for the success again this year.' Postecoglou is under fire despite winning the Europa League after finishing a lowly 17th in the Premier League at the same time. Montgomery insists that European success wouldn't have been possible without the manager and has backed him up. "He's obviously been massive in this cup win,' the former Easter Road man said. 'Look, he's a great guy and I think he's a man that's full of self-belief.
