The wheels get rolling for Rangers under Michael Beale
Having led Rangers to the Europa League Final in May, not many would have envisaged Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s rollercoaster reign as Rangers manager coming to an end on the 21st of November. To replace him, Rangers looked to a familiar face as former assistant manager Michael Beale was appointed as the club’s 18th permanent manager.
Despite being often referred to as the mastermind behind Steven Gerrard’s tenure, Beale’s appointment came with a lack of experience in management which he’d hope to make up in communication due to working with the core of the ‘Gers squad from 2018 to 2021.
Beale’s first test as Rangers manager came in the form of mid-World Cup friendly against Bayer Leverkusen. His line-up wasn’t much different to what fans of the Ibrox club have been seeing for the past months, aside from Glen Kamara regaining a starting place – who was a favourite from the first Beale era.
Rangers fans left Ibrox impressed after Beale’s debut. Not only by the result, as Rangers coasted to a 3-0 victory, but by the performance too. A high intensity and flexible attack left a lot to be excited for with the return of club football in close proximity.
Hibernian were the opponent in Beale’s first competitive match. Prior to this game, Beale emphasised on how he wanted to ‘take the handbrake off’ and allow Rangers to play expansive football. However, it looked like he had taken the handbrake off and put the car in reverse as his side conceded twice in the first 20 minutes.
Ibrox welcomes Michael Beale in his first match as Rangers manager (Image: Callum Lindsay)
As Rangers grew into the game, it became more apparent how his side would play their football. With the wingers getting narrower and fullbacks, James Tavernier and Adam Devine, playing wider – Rangers started to create chances. And eventually found a way to get themselves on top after Malik Tillman provided a moment of genius to assist Alfredo Morelos’ tap in. As a result of this, Beale came away with a 3-2 victory in his first match in charge.
Although it is still early doors, Tillman looks to be Beale’s star man with the Bayern Munich midfielder scoring twice and assisting another two in just as many matches. Players who looked a shadow of themselves in the final months under van Bronckhorst have sparked back into life with Morelos and Ryan Kent both registering impressive performances against Hibs.