Rangers appointed Queens Park Rangers’ Michael Beale to replace Giovanni van Bronckhorst as manager on Monday.
Beale, 42, who has signed a deal at Ibrox until 2026, was part of Rangers’ coaching team under former boss Steven Gerrard and followed him to Aston Villa, before taking charge of Championship QPR in June.
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Rangers said in a statement that coaches Neil Banfield, Harry Watling and Damian Matthew would be joining him at the club with further arrivals expected.
“Michael is a very exciting appointment for us, and his energy and ambition stood out both when he was here previously, and in the discussions we have had prior to him re-joining,” Rangers chairman Douglas Park said.
Beale, who was at the club’s training ground on Monday and whose first Premiership fixture will be against Hibernian at Ibrox on Dec. 15, said he was “hugely proud” to be given the opportunity.
“There are some new faces but some people that I know really well so it is great to see everyone,” Beale said.
“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,” he added.
Van Bronckhorst, who was sacked last week, replaced Gerrard just over a year ago and helped them to the Scottish Cup title, as well as last season’s Europa League final, which they lost on penalties to Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Dutch coach also guided Rangers to their first Champions League qualification in 12 years, but crashed out after the group stage with six losses — a record for a Scottish team. Rangers returned the worst goal difference of any team in the three decades of Champions League group competition.
Rangers are second in the Scottish top-flight with 33 points from 15 games, nine points behind rivals Celtic with the league having paused for the World Cup in Qatar.
