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Twenty-six years after leaving Ibrox as a player, Derek McInnes has been confirmed as Rangers manager on a three-year deal.
The 54-year-old succeeds Danny Rohl, who departed to take charge of Austrian Bundesliga outfit RB Salzburg after less than eight months in charge.
Rangers moved swiftly to replace Rohl, with the German already pictured in training with his new club before the announcement was made.
McInnes arrives at Ibrox having guided Hearts to a second-place finish in the Scottish Premiership last season, finishing eight points above the Light Blues.
He came agonisingly close to delivering Hearts their first league title in 66 years, only for a final day defeat at Celtic Park to deny them glory.
Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh confirmed the club paid £600,000 in compensation to Hearts to secure McInnes, describing him as “exactly what this club needs at this moment in time.”
Cavenagh said: “I am delighted to welcome Derek to Rangers. His deep Scottish and Rangers experience are important for us. He knows how to win in this league, and he is coming off an extremely strong season with Hearts.”
Chief executive Jim Gillespie echoed that sentiment, saying: “Derek understands what this club stands for, and the standards required to succeed here. With Derek’s addition to the team, we will continue to drive forward to make this club win consistently.”
McInnes began his managerial career at St Johnstone in 2007 and has since managed Bristol City, Aberdeen, Kilmarnock, and Hearts, accumulating more than 800 games on the touchline.
He is the reigning PFA Scotland, SPFL, and SFWA Manager of the Year, recognition that underlines the quality of his work at Tynecastle last season.
His appointment is particularly significant given he came close to taking the Ibrox job in 2017, ultimately remaining at Aberdeen following a breakdown in talks with then-chairman Dave King.
Journalist Keith Jackson offered context on that episode, saying: “He didn’t turn down Rangers, he turned down Dave King. He did so after seeking the advice of Walter Smith. Walter Smith always wanted Derek McInnes to become the manager of Rangers Football Club.”
McInnes joins with a backroom team that includes Alan Archibald, Paul Sheerin, and Craig Clark, who leaves Kilmarnock where he served as first team technical coach under Neil McCann and Bill Dodds.
Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd believes McInnes possesses the temperament required for the role, telling Sky Sports: “I think when you become the Rangers manager, that’s something you need to have: rhino skin. Because you’re going to have critics; you’re going to get criticised right, left, and centre.”
Ex-Celtic defender Charlie Mulgrew warned the club’s rivals that McInnes will make Rangers a genuine threat, saying: “He’s been at Aberdeen and Hearts. Now he’s going to Rangers again, he’s been at Rangers so he understands the club. He lives in the area.”
Mulgrew added: “I think with him and Lawrence Shankland missing out on the title last year, they’ll be so determined to get that title next year. So they’re going to be a huge threat.”
Hearts released a statement confirming they could not stand in McInnes’s way, noting that “Derek made it clear that he wished to pursue this opportunity” and that “Rangers met the requested compensation terms.”
The Jambos also confirmed that succession planning was already underway, with a number of candidates identified to replace McInnes at Tynecastle.
McInnes returns to a club where he spent five years as a player after Walter Smith signed him from Morton, playing his part in the historic nine-in-a-row title run.
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