Marco Rose has quickly emerged as the frontrunner for the Ibrox job — and the more you think about it, the more it adds up.
Not long ago, the idea of Rose taking over at Rangers felt like a bit of a long shot.
Now, however, he’s the firm favourite with the bookmakers, and there are more reasons behind that than it might first appear.
A month ago, the German — who is no stranger to Glasgow — first began making waves in the betting markets as Rangers’ search for a new manager quietly continued.
Since then, a number of developments have pushed his name from outside chance to serious contender.
For one, he’s now a free agent, having been sacked by RB Leipzig on March 30 following a loss to Borussia Monchengladbach.
There’s also a noteworthy connection between Red Bull — where Rose coached at Salzburg and Leipzig — and the San Francisco 49ers’ investment group, which holds influence at Ibrox.
Gretar Steinsson, who is set for a major role at Rangers, has strong links with the Red Bull network from his time working with Leeds United, strengthening the relationships across both clubs.
Rose also has a genuine affection for Glasgow. His teams have twice defeated Celtic at Parkhead — first with Salzburg against Brendan Rodgers’ side, and later with Leipzig against Ange Postecoglou’s team.
And when he visited Ibrox with Borussia Dortmund in 2022, he spoke warmly about the electric atmosphere and the formidable force Rangers represented.
Taking all that into account, it’s little wonder he’s gone from a near 20/1 outsider to the clear betting favourite.
Among realistic options, the 48-year-old is an exciting name, but it’s his straightforward tactical style that may make him the ideal fit.
To put it simply: he favours a classic 4-4-2.
While many German coaches influenced by Jurgen Klopp prefer 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formations, Rose opts for a simpler, more dynamic setup based on energy, work-rate, and intensity.
It’s exactly the kind of direct, high-tempo football Rangers supporters have been craving after the complicated systems of Michael Beale and the overly cautious style under Philippe Clement.
Calling it “back to basics” risks understating it, but Rose’s philosophy is about playing fast, aggressive football and getting the most out of his attackers — without unnecessary overcomplication.
While he took lessons from Klopp, having played under him at Mainz, Rose’s approach leans even more heavily on work-rate and running power.
His preference for a 4-4-2 diamond formation brought major success at Salzburg, where he won consecutive Austrian titles, and propelled Gladbach into Champions League contention during his time there.
Back in 2020, Rose described his philosophy:
“The basic ideas are emotionality, hunger, and being active. We want to sprint a lot, win high balls, and have short distances to goal. Not wide and slow — but fast, dynamic, and direct. It sounds great, but it takes time to develop. I’ve always preferred a diamond formation when possible, with two strikers leading the line.”
The managerial market remains fluid, but Rose’s surge to the top of the bookmakers’ lists — even ahead of Steven Gerrard — hasn’t come out of nowhere.
With clear reasons stacking up, and with Rose currently available and not rushing to dismiss the speculation, Rangers would be wise to seriously explore the opportunity.
