The managerial structure at Ibrox shifted abruptly after Jürgen Klopp intervened to bring Danny Röhl to the Austrian Bundesliga. With Red Bull’s Head of Global Soccer targeting the Rangers boss for RB Salzburg, the Scottish club quickly pivoted, securing former midfielder Derek McInnes on a three-year deal.
Röhl departed by mutual agreement after less than eight months in charge. The move triggered a seven-figure compensation fee from Salzburg. Rangers immediately activated a six-figure compensation package to extract the 54-year-old McInnes from Heart of Midlothian, finalizing his official appointment alongside his established coaching staff.
The transition strips Hearts of their leadership team right after a historic campaign. McInnes led the Edinburgh side to a club-record points tally and a second-place finish in the Scottish Premiership, coming within minutes of claiming their first top-flight title in 66 years. He brings assistants Alan Archibald, Paul Sheerin, and Craig Clark with him to Glasgow.
This appointment closes a long-standing loop for McInnes, who made over 70 appearances as a midfielder for Rangers between 1995 and 2000. He famously rejected the opportunity to manage the club in 2017 while at Aberdeen, but now steps into the Ibrox dugout as the permanent replacement.