Sport nationRANGERS TOLD TO APPOINT RAFA BENITEZ AS NEW BOSS TO CHALLENGE CELTIC DOMINANCE
Rangers have been advised to appoint Rafa Benitez as their new permanent manager in order to challenge Celtic’s dominance in Scottish football. The former Liverpool and Chelsea boss has been backed by pundit Gordon Dalziel, who believes Benitez has the experience and expertise to take on Brendan Rodgers and lead Rangers to success.
“I would take [Benitez] all day long,” Dalziel said in an interview with Open Goal. “Based on everything [he has done in his career], plus the fact I look at the other side of the city and I look at what they’ve got in Brendan Rodgers. I think Rangers need a big character who really believes in himself to go head to head [with Celtic].”
Benitez, who has also managed Real Madrid, Inter Milan, and Newcastle United, has a proven track record of success in top-level football. His experience and tactical acumen would be a major asset to Rangers as they seek to challenge Celtic’s dominance in Scottish football.
Dalziel also suggested that Rangers might consider appointing a lesser-known manager, but emphasized that Benitez would be his top choice. “Russell Martin, OK he went into the Premier League and died [with Southampton] but that happens,” he said. “Lampard, he’s a big name like Steven Gerrard. Rangers might go for a Ted Lasso, if you know what I mean? Bring somebody in who we’ve never heard of.”
Benitez has previously spoken about his admiration for Steven Gerrard, who led Rangers to the Scottish Premiership title in 2021. In an interview with the Daily Record, Benitez said: “Firstly, congratulations Steve! He has done really well this season. I have had many players who at the time were complaining but after they became coaches, they say: ‘Oh Rafa was teaching me that, Rafa was telling me that.'”
Benitez also emphasized the importance of having a strong teacher-coach relationship in football. “They don’t realise when they are young why you are pushing,” he said. “Then after they realise. You will always remember the teachers who were pushing you, not the teachers who were very nice. The nice teachers are fine but if you want to win, you need teachers who will give you something and that means that sometimes it has to be difficult.”
As Rangers continue their search for a new permanent manager, Benitez’s name is likely to be mentioned frequently. With his experience, expertise, and proven track record of success, he would be an excellent choice to lead Rangers forward and challenge Celtic’s dominance in Scottish football.
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