Rangers fans have been patiently waiting to finally see Michael Beale at the helm. The newly hired trainer was previously given the job opportunity on November 28. However, due to the World Cup hiatus, the Scottish Premiership will not resume until December 15.
Scotland’s top-flight restart coincides with Rangers hosting Hibernian (live on Paramount+). It will be Beale’s first opportunity to impress the Rangers faithful. The manager was part of Steven Gerrard’s team when the former Liverpool star was in Scotland.
The coach quickly drew the attention of other clubs
However, Beale left Rangers when Gerrard took over at Aston Villa. Beale, however, did not stay on as an assistant coach for long. Queens Park Rangers offered Beale their head coaching job in the summer of 2022. After a good start to the season, Beale was once again targeted by other clubs.
Wolverhampton Wanderers approached the manager for his vacant managerial role in October, but Beale declined. However, the 42-year-old Englishman could not turn Rangers away. Following his appointment to the Scottish giants, Beale was delighted to return to his old club.
“I’m very proud, it’s a wonderful, wonderful football club, it’s an institution,” Beale said during his first interview as Rangers head coach. “For everyone who works here it is a great privilege, but to be the manager of this football club is extremely special. Some wonderful people have sat in this chair before me, and I am very proud to be the person sitting here now.”
Beale’s academy experience should help the Rangers grow
Along with Aston Villa and Rangers, Beale also has coaching experience at the Chelsea and Liverpool academies. Perhaps his most interesting role came when he learned Portuguese to work for Brazil’s Sao Paulo FC.
Beale’s work with the aforementioned youth setups has helped the manager understand development at a club. “Your personality is very important,” Beale said while working with Gerrard a few years ago. “It is someone’s son or daughter. It is important that you give them great interest and inspire them.”
“When little kids get out of their mom or dad’s car and run to the field to start training, if after 15 minutes they don’t have the same energy, you were wrong. It is the same for a professional footballer”.
The coach certainly has an interesting journey to one of the best teams in the country. Beale’s tenure at QPR, though short, should give Rangers fans hope for the future. The Championship side were previously top of the league at the end of October after finishing 11th last season and only recruited free transfers this summer.
Rangers are currently second in the Scottish standings. Although bitter rivals Celtic sit nine points atop the top flight, Rangers fans are hoping Beale can close the gap between the two clubs.
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