Exclusive: Rangers could land huge Ancelotti coup ‘from people I’ve spoken to’
Davide Ancelotti has developed an impressive reputation as a coach as Rangers weigh up his surprise appointment, sources have told Football Insider.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed what his sources at Ibrox have told him about Ancelotti’s managerial credentials.
Rangers’ new owners 49ers Enterprises are keen to make a statement with their first appointment in Govan, with Barry Ferguson unlikely to be kept in the fold after temporarily succeeding Philippe Clement.
Ancelotti’s name has been touted as a credible name alongside Russell Martin and Steven Gerrard, and sources have told Football Insider that Ancelotti is a “gamble” which could well pay off for Rangers.
Under his father Carlo, Ancelotti has worked as an assistant at Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton and Real Madrid, and Football Insider sources have said that the 35-year-old did a bulk of the in-person training.
Although the senior Ancelotti was still in charge of team selection and much of the man-management, Davide’s running of training sessions at Madrid has impressed Football Insider sources at Rangers.
Ancelotti swoop a ‘risk and gamble’ for Rangers
Former Aberdeen CEO Keith Wyness has told Football Insider that Ancelotti wouldn’t be the best fit for Rangers and the Scottish Premiership, but that won’t stop 49ers Enterprises from pressing ahead.
Speaking on the latest Inside Track, O’Rourke said that while hiring Ancelotti would be a significant gamble at Ibrox, the Italian’s strong repuation stands him in good stead to make an impact at Ibrox.
“Very ambitious move from Rangers, they’re sort of thinking outside the box here – they need to bring in a new manager to replace Philippe Clement. Obviously they’re going down this new model of appointing a head coach”, he told Football Insider.
“Ancelotti hasn’t managed a team himself; obviously he’s had very important roles working under his father Carlo at Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton and now Real Madrid.
“He did do a lot of the work at Real Madrid; he was the one who was coaching and training the team while Carlo was the manager, picking the side and dealing with everything else, with the players and egos at Real Madrid.
“He’s got a great CV and he’s learnt from one of the best managers of all time in his father, Carlo. He’s one of those up and coming young head coaches.
“He would be exciting if Rangers could get him. It would be a gamble because he’s never been a head coach in his own right at a club as yet.
“From people I’ve spoken to, people are very impressed by Ancelotti – even when he was at Everton, a lot of people were talking about him being a Premier League manager in the future as well.
“Rangers have sort of thrown their hat into the to try and lure him to Scotland, which will be a huge coup for Rangers if they’re able to do it. Every managerial appointment comes with risk and is a gamble, but it’s one that obviously Rangers feel could pay off.”
New Rangers manager has to hit the ground running
Ancelotti would indeed be a gamble for the 49ers as they take charge at Ibrox, and ex-Man United scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Rangers could look to “accelerate” their attempts to bring back Gerrard.
The 44-year-old’s pre-existing relationship with the Light Blues could edge him ahead of Ancelotti in the race, and Rangers’ fondness of their former manager has been reciprocated by Gerrard in recent days.
Football Insider revealed last month that whoever the 49ers hire as Rangers’ new manager will be given £25million to spend, and if an fresh-faced Ancelotti is given that kind of budget, the Light Blues could make waves in their efforts to close the gap on Celtic.