Rangers chief executive Patrick Stewart has made a bold claim about the club’s new manager Derek McInnes, saying the Ibrox side now have someone in the dugout who mirrors the high-energy, high-demand style made famous by Jurgen Klopp during his time at Liverpool.
The comparison is a significant one. Klopp transformed Liverpool from also-rans into European and Premier League champions through relentless pressing football and an almost cult-like connection with players and fans alike. Suggesting McInnes operates in a similar mould is a statement of serious intent from the Ibrox boardroom.
McInnes was appointed as Rangers manager after a stint at Hearts that came agonisingly close to delivering silverware. Last season, Hearts were in genuine contention for the Scottish Premiership title right up until the final day of the campaign, only to fall short at the last hurdle. It was a near miss that still stings, but it also showed McInnes can build a squad capable of challenging at the very top of Scottish football.
For Rangers, who have endured a difficult few seasons watching Celtic dominate domestically, the appointment feels like a statement. Bringing in a manager who pushed Hearts to the brink of a title win signals that the Ibrox club means business about closing the gap on their city rivals.
Stewart spoke with clear enthusiasm about what McInnes brings to the role, pointing to his man-management skills, his tactical organisation and the way he gets the absolute maximum out of the players available to him. These are qualities that defined Klopp’s early years at Borussia Dortmund before he became one of the most celebrated managers in the world.
McInnes himself is no stranger to Rangers. He came through the club as a player and knows what the institution means to supporters. That connection matters in a job where expectation levels are sky high and patience can wear thin quickly when results do not go the right way.
His managerial career has taken him through Bristol City, Aberdeen and Hearts, and it is at Aberdeen and Hearts where he really made his name. At Pittodrie, he delivered consistent top-three finishes and multiple cup runs, establishing himself as one of the most reliable operators in Scottish football. At Hearts, he inherited a squad and moulded it into genuine title contenders.
The challenge at Rangers is of a different scale entirely. The fanbase is enormous, the scrutiny is relentless and the expectation is nothing less than winning the league and competing in Europe. But if the chief executive genuinely believes McInnes has that Klopp-style quality, then there is real belief within the club that this appointment can deliver.
Rangers fans will be hoping the comparison proves accurate. A manager who can create a clear identity, get players performing above expectations and build genuine momentum could be exactly what the club needs to end Celtic’s run of dominance in the Premiership.
Pre-season will give the first real clues about what McInnes has in mind for the squad, and transfer activity over the summer will show how much backing he is getting from the board. For now though, the mood around Ibrox appears cautiously optimistic, with the CEO’s Klopp comparison setting the tone for what supporters can expect.