There is no shortage of managers in recent football history who have landed top jobs after excelling in interim roles. Should Barry Ferguson guide Rangers to a strong finish this season, it could give the Ibrox hierarchy plenty to consider.
Ross McCormack, a former teammate of Ferguson during the early stages of his career, believes the ex-Rangers captain could earn a permanent position if he leads the team deep into the Europa League and secures a standout victory over Celtic in the upcoming Old Firm derby in mid-March.
Could Ferguson become Rangers’ answer to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer—a club legend returning to revive a struggling institution? For now, however, the signs still point to Rangers appointing a full-time successor to Philippe Clement in the summer.
It’s worth noting that Ferguson has not held a managerial role for an extended period since his brief and unsuccessful stint at lower-league Alloa Athletic in 2022.
In terms of permanent candidates, Rangers have been linked with a potential return for Steven Gerrard, who led the club to a league title four years ago. However, the likelihood of that happening appears slim.
Andy Halliday has voiced support for former Southampton boss Russell Martin, suggesting his possession-based style could address Rangers’ struggles against low-block defenses. Meanwhile, Ferguson himself praised Derek McInnes ahead of Rangers’ 4-2 comeback win over Kilmarnock on Wednesday.
One name that has flown somewhat under the radar, however, is David Wagner.
Blackburn Rovers Open Door for Rangers to Land David Wagner
The former Huddersfield Town, Schalke, Young Boys, and Norwich City coach is currently without a job after his Norwich side suffered a play-off semi-final defeat to Leeds United last year.
Reports suggest that Rangers have included Wagner on their early managerial shortlist. With Valerien Ismael now appointed as Blackburn Rovers’ new manager, the path could be clearer for Rangers to pursue Wagner if they formalize their interest later in the process.
Blackburn had reportedly narrowed their search down to either Ismael or Wagner earlier this week. Now, with Ismael signing a three-year deal after John Eustace—another name linked with Rangers—left for Derby County, Wagner remains available and waiting for the right opportunity.
Pep Guardiola Called Wagner ‘Incredible’ After Huddersfield Success
Wagner, who began his coaching career in Borussia Dortmund’s youth setup and famously served as Jurgen Klopp’s best man, is best known for leading Huddersfield Town to the Premier League for the first time in their history. He achieved this despite operating on a budget far smaller than many of their rivals.
Wagner then went a step further, guiding Huddersfield to Premier League survival in 2018. During his tenure, he played a key role in developing players like Aaron Mooy, Philip Billing, and Matthias Jorgensen, who went on to establish themselves in the top flight.
“First of all, a big compliment to Wagner for what he has done in the club; Promoted and an incredible season [to avoid the drop],” Pep Guardiola said in 2019, paying tribute to the German coach following his emotional departure from Huddersfield.
“He did an incredible job because in the circumstances it’s not easy to compete in the Premier League with the players they have.”
