Huge Names Among 25 Favourites to Replace Russell Martin

The odds for Rangers’ next manager have emerged following their 1-0 Europa League defeat to Genk on Thursday night. Russell Martin’s tenure is beginning to resemble a ticking time bomb, and as the former Southampton boss feels the pressure mounting in the Ibrox dugout, four wins from his first 14 games suggest the sand is falling through the hourglass at an alarming rate.

To compound the misery, his well-meaning management has delivered a historically poor start to the Scottish Premiership campaign. Rangers remain winless after their first five league matches, recording 0 wins, four draws, and one loss – just four points from a possible 15. This marks their worst start to a league season in 47 years, and with SportsCasting releasing odds for the 25 favourites to replace Martin, change in the cockpit could soon be on the horizon.

Rangers’ Next Manager Odds

Jesse Marsch – 16/1

Jesse Marsch’s spell at Leeds United between 2022 and 2023 was fleeting, to say the least. While he did guide the Lilywhites to their first win at Anfield since 2001, his knowledge of British and European football remains limited. His tenure at Elland Road is the only time he has managed on this side of the Atlantic.

Now serving as Canada’s head coach with less than 10 months until the World Cup, it would be unwise for him to have his head turned by potential suitors.

Graham Potter – 16/1

West Ham have won just one of their opening five matches across all competitions, with four losses in the Premier League leaving them 19th in the table – second from bottom, only above Wolves. If Graham Potter were to jump ship and join Rangers, it would be a real question of out of the frying pan and into the fire: is his former role or his potential new one the more toxic environment?

For the 55-time Scottish champions, sacking a struggling manager only to hire one who seems to be aging in dog years at the moment would feel very much like a sideways move from the outside looking in.

Gareth Southgate – 16/1

Since suffering a second successive European Championship final defeat last summer with England, Gareth Southgate has been out of work. But make no mistake – what he brings to any side in world football is a feel-good factor, something Rangers seem to have forgotten exists right now.

A highly sought-after head coach, with the likes of Manchester United constantly circling in between their failed experiments at Old Trafford, the sense is that Rangers would need to move quickly in pitching their project to one of the Three Lions’ all-time greats if they were to have any chance of tempting him back into management.

Ralph Hasenhuttl – 14/1

Unemployed since a run of eight winless Bundesliga games with VfL Wolfsburg back in May, Ralph Hasenhuttl is renowned for his high-pressing, energetic brand of attacking football – often earning him the nickname “Alpine Klopp” for its intensity and emphasis on quick transitions. His trademark gegenpressing style, built on relentless ball recovery high up the pitch, could breathe new life into Rangers’ youthful squad.

With a track record of overperforming, reports suggest the Rangers hierarchy have warmed to the idea of bringing in another former Southampton boss. Hasenhuttl’s knack for working within tight budgets and making the most of the tools at his disposal could deliver immediate progress at Ibrox.

Marco Rose – 12/1

Between 2017 and 2019, Marco Rose transformed a young and seemingly nondescript RB Salzburg side into European dark horses, guiding them to two Austrian league titles and a Europa League semi-final. With his proven track record in Europe, he provides a mouthwatering option for Rangers’ new ownership.

Nuno Espirito Santo – 10/1

If not for Nottingham Forest’s trigger-happy, knee-jerk ownership, Nuno Espírito Santo would likely still hold a high-ranking Premier League job, leading the Tricky Trees into their first European campaign in nearly three decades.

Any club that secures Nuno’s services would be fortunate, given how well he performed at the City Ground. A move to Rangers, however, would represent a significant step down for him, and it remains to be seen whether the Ibrox project matches his own ambitions.

Danny Rohl – 8/1

At just 36, Danny Rohl’s rapid rise, honed under elite mentors like Hansi Flick and Julian Nagelsmann, makes him a unicorn for overachievement on limited budgets. His availability since departing Sheffield Wednesday in late July 2025 – amid the club’s ownership turmoil – positions him as a realistic target. Given that this would be just his second managerial role, however, shows it’s also a high-risk, high-reward scenario.

Kevin Muscat – 6/1

Kevin Muscat, who played for Rangers between 2002 and 2003, is a name that often comes up among Gers fans when discussing the next manager. The only footballer ever deemed too violent to feature in the Old Firm derby, he is currently 6/1 third favourite for the role.

At present, he manages Shanghai Port in China’s Super League and has a strong reputation following successful spells in Australia and Japan. It’s believed Muscat was on the final shortlist for the Rangers job last year, before the club opted for Belgian Philippe Clement.

Steven Gerrard – 4/1

Former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard, who led the club from 2018 to 2021 before moving to Aston Villa, is currently the second favourite to take over Martin’s position – arguably the appointment that would make the most sense.

The Liverpool icon was most recently head coach at Saudi side Al-Ettifaq, a stint that lasted 18 months and ended in late January. During his time at Rangers, Gerrard won the league title in 2021 and remains the last manager to do so at Ibrox. That season, he led Rangers to back-to-back derby victories over Celtic and guided them to the championship without losing a single game, amassing 102 points while conceding just 13 goals in the league.

Sean Dyche – 2/1

Route-one football might not align with what supporters inside Ibrox would want to see from their team, but it could be exactly what they need in uncertain times like these.

Before his stint at Everton, where the gravel-voiced helmsman was constantly embroiled in relegation battles, Sean Dyche made his name at Watford and then during a highly successful ten-year spell at Burnley from 2012 to 2022, guiding them to Europa League football against all odds. His style of play might not be easy on the eye, but it’s ruthlessly effective in delivering results. See the full odds for Rangers’ next manager below: