Michael Beale said he is ‘hugely proud’ to be appointed as Rangers’ new manager as the club yesterday secured the former Ibrox coach on a contract until the summer of 2026.
Rangers believe they have captured ‘one of the most sought-after young managers in British football’ after luring Beale from QPR.
A week after sacking Giovanni van Bronckhorst, the Ibrox club confirmed that the 42-year-old Englishman, who was an assistant coach to former Gers boss Steven Gerrard, has been named as their 18th permanent manager.
On his appointment, Beale said: ‘It is fantastic to be back and to see everybody this morning, there are some new faces but some I know really well.
‘I am hugely proud, it is a wonderful football club, it is an institution. For everyone that works here it is a huge privilege, but to be the manager of this football club, that is extremely special.
‘Some wonderful people have sat in this chair prior to me, and I am hugely proud to be the person sat here now.
‘I feel more ready, more equipped to do the job, even more so than when I departed a year ago. I am here to win. That’s the most important thing. But also to win with style, in a way that makes the fans excited.’
Rangers said in a statement: ‘It is an exciting appointment for the club, with Beale undoubtedly one of the most sought-after young managers in British football.
‘In his previous time at Rangers he tirelessly supported manager Steven Gerrard and technical staff in working towards winning title number 55 in 2021, while the club, under Gerrard, relaunched on the European stage and built a superb reputation once there.’
Beale only became a manager this summer after QPR secured him from Gerrard’s backroom team at Aston Villa in June. He made a swift impact at Loftus Road as he led the club to top spot in the Championship a month ago before they failed to win any of their last five matches before the World Cup break.
The Londoner’s impressive start to management in west London drew the attention of Wolves in October. He turned down a move to Molineux, but has been unable to resist the opportunity to return to Scotland.
Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson added: ‘This is a coveted managerial position and after an intense week of discussions, I wish to extend our thanks to all of the excellent managers who we met to discuss the role.’
QPR director of football Les Ferdinand said it was ‘a blow’ to lose Beale. First-team coaches Neil Banfield, Damian Matthew and Harry Watling have also left QPR to join Beale at Gers.
The new manager has a little over three weeks to prepare his team for his first game at home to Hibernian on December 15.
The Ibrox side are nine points adrift of Celtic at the top of the Premiership and are out of Europe after losing all six Champions League group matches.
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