Derek McInnes has been appointed as the new manager of Rangers, expressing his determination to win titles and make the club "relevant" again. The move comes six weeks after his previous club, Hearts, narrowly missed out on the Scottish Premiership title.
McInnes, who previously managed Aberdeen and had a stint with Hearts, admitted that leaving Tynecastle was difficult after a successful season there. However, he stated that the offer to manage Rangers, a club he supported and played for, was one he "simply couldn’t reject."
"It’s a very special moment for myself and my family," McInnes said upon his appointment. "Having known the club for a long time, supported the club, I’m well aware of the responsibility that being manager brings. I’m excited to get going. I feel as though it’s the right time for me. I feel ready for it. I feel as if I belong here and I’m ready to get going with it."
He revealed he had previously turned down the role in 2017, explaining that circumstances were different then. "I was leaving a really secure club in Aberdeen and I had a really enjoyable period at Aberdeen. At that time, I wanted to be the Rangers manager as well. But it was a different ownership, a different set of circumstances, a different feeling to be honest as soon as we got into talks and negotiations."
The appointment follows the departure of Danny Rohl, who was reportedly sought after by RB Salzburg. Rangers CEO Jim Gillespie indicated that the club accelerated their plans to bring in McInnes once Rohl's potential exit became clear.
"The decision for Danny to move on was our decision, Rangers Football Club’s decision," Gillespie stated. "Danny was contracted to Rangers and had no buyout, so ultimately we could have told Salzburg he wasn’t for sale. But we decided that we wanted to bring Derek in, and that was the motivation to let Danny go and bring Derek in because he was someone that we had already highlighted as a man to bring success to Rangers."
Gillespie also confirmed that McInnes will revert to the formal title of "manager," a nod to the club's history, distinguishing him from recent "head coach" predecessors. "It was important to Derek and important to us that we did that, and that’s why he’s the Rangers manager," Gillespie added. "He brings standards, he brings leadership, and he brings intangibles."
McInnes, who has been assured he will have the final say on transfers, is keen to restore Rangers to domestic dominance. "The supporters need something to believe in, they need something real," he said. "I come here with the confidence that with the resources we’ve got, with the infrastructure in place, and the support we’ve got from people above us, that this should be a winning Rangers team and this should be a club that should be winning."
He acknowledged the long period of suffering for Rangers fans, who have won only one title in 15 years. "It’s up to us to try now and play a key role in driving the standards and getting a winning Rangers team on the pitch more often than not," McInnes stated. "I’ve got an idea of what my Rangers team needs to look like, and hopefully, it’s something similar to what the Rangers fans want as well."
McInnes signed a three-year contract and believes Rangers offer him the best opportunity to achieve his ambitions. "Rangers give me the best chance to win, and that’s important. I know what I can bring to Rangers, but equally, I know what Rangers can give to me."