Former Rangers player Kevin Muscat has won titles as a manager in Australia, Japan and China
Rangers are reportedly engaged in ongoing discussions with prospective managerial candidates, despite Kevin Muscat emerging as a frontrunner to succeed Russell Martin.
Muscat, who represented the club in the early 2000s, is currently the head coach of Chinese Super League side Shanghai Port.
Sources indicate that conversations have transpired with the 52-year-old Australian, with some within Ibrox reportedly favoring his appointment after Steven Gerrard withdrew his name from consideration.
Should an agreement be reached with Muscat, it is understood that his availability would be contingent upon the conclusion of the Chinese league season on 22 November.
Reports suggest that former Rangers midfielder Neil McCann could potentially serve as interim manager until Muscat’s commitments in Asia are fulfilled.
The club has emphasized that no definitive agreement has been reached, and discussions with other potential candidates remain active.
Muscat, who earned 46 caps for Australia, has secured league titles as a manager in Australia with Melbourne Victory, in Japan with Yokohama F Marinos, and most recently in China with his current club.
During his playing career, he had stints in England with Crystal Palace, Wolves, and Millwall, and he clinched a domestic treble with Rangers in the 2002-03 season, making 26 appearances.
Martin’s tenure, which commenced following Rangers’ acquisition by a US-led consortium in the summer, lasted a mere 123 days following a dismal four-month period.
Rangers currently occupy eighth place in the Scottish Premiership, having secured only one victory in their last six matches.
The team suffered a 9-1 aggregate defeat to Club Brugge in Champions League qualifying and has lost its opening two Europa League fixtures.
Rangers compile new shortlist as trio ruled out
‘Chaos reigns as Gerrard leaves Rangers scrambling’
Gerrard rejects chance to return as Rangers boss
During his 19-year playing career, marked by 123 bookings and 12 red cards, Muscat was once labeled the “most hated man in football”.
Post-retirement, he revealed, external that former Rangers manager Alex McLeish did not entrust him to participate in an Old Firm derby during his brief tenure at Ibrox.
It is to the Australian’s credit that he has since managed to shed his controversial image through an impressive 13-year managerial career.
His commendable resume attracted Rangers’ attention two years ago, but he reportedly missed out on the position when the club opted for Philippe Clement instead.
At the time, former Rangers teammate Neil McCann told BBC Scotland that the Ibrox side would be gaining someone with “presence” who “understands the league, the intensity, the rivalry and how to get the job done”.
Muscat previously served as the first-team boss at Yokohama F Marinos, where he secured the 2022 J-League title after succeeding Ange Postecoglou following his departure for Celtic.
He also succeeded Postecoglou at Melbourne Victory after a period working under the current Nottingham Forest head coach.
Muscat’s managerial career commenced in Melbourne, where he won the A-League Championship twice in five-and-a-half years before his move to Japan.
Runner-up finishes in the J-League in 2021 and 2023 bookended his 2022 triumph in Yokohama.
Muscat secured a title in a third different country last year in China, and he is on the verge of another, with his side currently leading the league by two points with just four games remaining.
Throughout his managerial stints in Australia, Japan, and China, his win rate stands at 54%, with his teams averaging 1.9 goals per game while conceding 1.2.
His Shanghai Port side scored 96 goals in a 30-game league-winning campaign last year.
These statistics suggest that he is a coach capable of achieving success while implementing an attacking style of play. However, it remains to be seen how this would translate to Scottish football.
Muscat’s managerial career has not been without its challenges. His sole venture into Europe lasted only 14 games and six months with struggling Belgian side Sint-Truiden.
Muscat won only two of his 14 fixtures before being dismissed in December 2020, with the club facing relegation threats.
Following his departure, there was no significant improvement in form, with the team ultimately finishing the campaign seven points clear of the relegation zone.
Muscat expressed his belief that he could have turned things around with more time, adding that the circumstances surrounding his departure were “disappointing and unfortunate”.
It appeared that whoever succeeded Martin would face an uphill battle in winning over the supporters following Gerrard’s withdrawal.
However, Muscat’s appointment appears to be a popular choice among the fans.
His reputation as a player suggests that he is not one to be trifled with, which may appeal to the supporters given their team’s lackluster performances this season.
However, leading a team entails more than just delivering stern reprimands, and Muscat has demonstrated his ability to win in three different countries.
As a treble winner during his single season in Glasgow, he will be acutely aware of the pressures and expectations at Ibrox, although this did little to aid Martin, who also had a brief spell at Rangers as a player.
Having achieved success in Australia and Japan, much like Postecoglou, Muscat’s resume bears striking similarities to the former Tottenham boss’ pre-Celtic career.
Should he come close to replicating his compatriot’s trophy-laden tenure at Parkhead, he will be remembered in Govan with the same fondness as his compatriot is in the east end of Glasgow.
Visit our Rangers page for all the latest news, analysis and fan views
Get Rangers news notifications in the BBC Sport app