Former Saudi Pro League Manager Wants Rangers Job After Gerrard Decision
Rangers are considering hiring former West Ham United and Watford boss Slaven Bilic as Russell Martin’s successor, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.
The Ibrox side have reportedly earmarked the 57-year-old as another option in their ongoing search for a new manager following Steven Gerrard’s withdrawal from contention.
The former Liverpool and England midfielder had been a leading candidate to take over the Scottish giants mid-season but decided the timing ‘wasn’t right’ to return, as GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs previously reported.
Rangers are claimed to be considering a pool of available managers following Gerrard’s decision, with former Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl among those linked.
Bilic has been out of work since leaving Saudi Pro League side Al-Fateh in August 2024 and most recently managed in England with Watford during the 2022-23 season.
According to O’Rourke, Bilic has now emerged as a ‘serious contender’ to take over at Rangers and would be open to the move, over a year after leaving Al-Fateh.
The Croatian tactician was linked with a surprise return to West Ham before they appointed Nuno Espirito Santo last month.
Bilic spent over two seasons with West Ham from 2015 to 2017, winning 42 of his 109 games and averaging 1.33 points per match in the Premier League.
He was sacked 11 games into the 2017/18 campaign after winning just twice, and later managed West Brom, Watford and clubs in Saudi Arabia and China.
In 2020, he secured promotion to the Premier League with West Brom, who finished runners-up in the Championship, but was sacked in December after the Baggies secured just one win in their opening 13 games.
Martin was dismissed by Rangers following a 1-1 draw at Falkirk on Sunday, with the club sitting eighth in the Premiership on eight points, trailing leaders Hearts by 11.
The Ibrox side won just five of their 17 games under Martin in all competitions, starting their Europa League campaign with back-to-back defeats.
The Scottish tactician penned a three-year deal upon his arrival in July but oversaw just 123 days in charge, with Rangers now on the lookout for their fourth different manager this year.
