(Credit: Imago / Getty Images)

Ben Palmer

Thu 24 April 2025 7:00, UK

Jose Mourinho’s mooted move to take over from Barry Ferguson as Rangers manager has caused major excitement around Ibrox.

Following the sacking of Philippe Clement, former midfielder Ferguson has done an admirable job of steadying the Rangers ship.

But the opportunity to appoint a manager renowned for rocking the boat and bringing excitement both on and off the pitch may be one that the prospective ownership group of Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises, find difficult to pass up on.

Speaking via BBC Sport, ahead of Fenerbahce’s 3-1 first-leg defeat to Rangers in March, Mourinho revealed he would be open to managing in Scotland in the future, calling the Premiership “a league of passion”.

Rangers can play it safe or take a risk on volatile ex-Chelsea boss

There are plenty of solid options on the table for the Bears, ahead of a crucial summer as they look to close the gap to Celtic.

Sean Dyche was linked with the Rangers job in February, whilst Ferguson is looking like a safe pair of hands in Europe at least, and Steven Gerrard is also linked with a return to the soon-to-be vacant managerial position.

With the club consistently finding themselves rocked by turbulence since the former Liverpool man left Ibrox in 2021, sticking with a safer, and perhaps less volatile option, may appeal to the incumbent ownership group.

However, with a more “box-office” option on the table, ex-Ger Alan Hutton is excited by the rumours linking the former Chelsea manager to Ibrox.

Alan Hutton excited by Jose Mourinho links to Rangers

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, via NewBettingOffers.co.uk, when asked about who Rangers should target as a permanent managerial option in the summer, Hutton was quick to mention Mourinho, saying: “From the rumours that I’ve read, I mean you’re looking at the likes of Jose Mourinho, I mean that’s box-office, isn’t it!

“Can you imagine that in Scottish football? That would be a sight!

“So, look, there’s some interesting people that are in there, of course, Steven Gerrard’s been mentioned again, obviously, with his links to the club last time and what he achieved while he was there.

“So I don’t think any of them will go away, but it’s just really down to when the new management team comes in and the takeover happens, what direction do they see the club going?

“And it’s very difficult to predict what they’re going to try and do, but some of the names that have been bandied about is quite exciting.”