Rangers supporters have been getting increasingly restless in the Transfer Tavern in recent times given that their club’s managerial search doesn’t appear like ending anytime soon, although their side’s win over Aberdeen on Wednesday has given them some room for optimism.
Pedro Caixinha was relieved of his duties back on October 26 after overseeing a sluggish start to the campaign, which included an embarrassing defeat to minnows Progres Niederkorn in the first qualifying round of the Europa League. Former Reading and Southampton defender Graeme Murty was placed in temporary charge and remains in the job at present, and the 43-year-old saw his side get back to winning ways with a 3-0 success over second place Aberdeen on Wednesday night, thus bridging the gap to leaders Celtic to seven points.
Consequently, there have been mixed emotions among Rangers supporters in the Tavern in recent times, although many are focused on the managerial saga, with it seeming that no-one is any the wiser as to who their team’s next manager will be over a month on from Caixinha’s sacking.
Yet one man who has seen his odds shorten considerably in recent times is former West Ham boss Slaven Bilic, who was axed as Hammers chief earlier this month after his side’s poor start to the Premier League campaign.
The Croat took over at the East London outfit back in 2015 and led the club to seventh place in his first season in charge, which coincided with their last at Upton Park, yet things didn’t quite work out for the 49-year-old at the London Stadium, and he was sacked at the start of November given West Ham’s position in the Premier League’s bottom three.
Yet, Bilic could well be back in work soon as his odds with Sky Bet have shortened to 16/1 to take over at Rangers, and he’s a man the Gers board could look to in their bid to replace Caixinha.
And that’s because the Croat has already made clear his desire to work north of the border at the Scottish giants, while he also showed during his time at West Ham his capabilities at making an impact, while also dealing with the enormous pressure that went with the job.
Ultimately, back in 2010 while in charge of Croatia, Bilic admitted that he would ‘walk to Glasgow’ for an interview with either of the Old Firm duo, such was his admiration for the two clubs, and the parallels he saw with the job he was doing in charge of his country.
And although Bilic has since managed at Besiktas and West Ham, and time has passed since those comments, the Rangers board can clearly see that the 49-year-old has the passion and drive to succeed at Ibrox.
And although he lost his job at West Ham, he demonstrated the ability to perform under pressure on more than one occasion, which will surely stand him in good stead were he to take over the Gers.
Ultimately, it seemed from the outside that every week could well have been Bilic’s last at West Ham, such was the immense pressure on his shoulders, and more often than not he would lead his side to victory, be it against Burnley, Swansea and Hull last season, or Huddersfield Town at the start of this one.
Pressure is part and parcel of being Rangers boss, especially at this time given their struggles on the field and overall inability to compete with Celtic, yet Bilic has proven his credentials when up against it on more than one occasion.
And he also led the Hammers to a seventh place finish in the Premier League in his first season at the club, so if the Rangers board are looking for an instant impact, Bilic could well be their man.
Ultimately, the 49-year-old was always up against it at West Ham and his lack of job security, given his contract was up at the end of the campaign, left him extremely vulnerable, yet he continued to show fight and determination even when things weren’t going to plan.
And having that sort of resilience, having delivered under extreme pressure before, could make him the ideal man to take over at Ibrox.
Rangers fans… what do you think? Let us know!
