McCoist left stunned on-air after hearing new Rangers manager suggestion

Rangers legend Ally McCoist has been left stunned by the mention of a potential permanent manager at Ibrox, given his track record in the game.

Rangers searching for permanent manager

Barry Ferguson is currently in interim charge of the Gers, which has proven to be a popular appointment with many supporters, even though there are doubts over his lack of experience managing at this level.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has claimed that the 47-year-old could still be given the role permanently if he impresses enough between now and the end of the season, helped by the fact that he is “already well-backed by the Ibrox crowd thanks to his previous spell as Rangers’ club captain.”

Steven Gerrard also continues to be mentioned as a possible dream appointment for likely new owners 49ers Enterprises, as they edge towards sealing their takeover of the club. The Liverpool legend won the Scottish Premiership title during his first stint there, and may like the idea of making a return.

Kevin Muscat is another potential option for the Gers, with the Australian currently in charge of Chinese side Shanghai Port. Another former Ibrox player, he could be a more experienced option than Ferguson.

McCoist stunned by Rangers manager suggestion

Speaking live on talkSPORT’s breakfast show on Monday [via Glasgow World], McCoist reacted to the idea of Rafa Benitez managing Rangers in shock, after Jeff Stelling read out the suggestion of the Spaniard moving to Glasgow: “I’m a bit speechless. You’ve beat me with that. The only thing he would need, the same as (Ruben) Amorim at Manchester United, is a better squad of players to deal with at this moment of time.”

Meanwhile, Stelling then continued to go into further depth about why the former Liverpool and Real Madrid boss could be the ideal pick to arrive at Ibrox this summer: “He’s got loads of experience, he’s got European experience, top level experience, and he is available.”

Benitez is a manager with genuine pedigree, so it is understandable why McCoist was “speechless” at the idea of Rangers snapping him up as their next boss.

The Spaniard famously won the Champions League with Liverpool back in 2005, beating a star-studded AC Milan side in a memorable final, and he even won the Europa League with Chelsea in 2013, despite being unpopular with many of their supporters because of his Anfield past.

A shrewd tactician with so much experience, Benitez could help bridge the gap between Rangers and Celtic, and if he is backed by the 49ers in the summer transfer window, he could bring in players who are perfectly suited to his style of play.

Whether the 64-year-old is a target remains to be seen, but there are clear merits to the Gers at least trying their luck, and he may like the idea of managing another huge British club.

He is a proven winner who makes teams hard to beat, and while someone like Gerrard is 20 years his junior, going with the more trophy-laden choice could make the most sense.