Many supporters think that telling them that the Englishman is safe for the time being only postpones what will eventually happen. But what can we learn from history?
Despite losing their first two Scottish Premiership games and being thrashed by PSV Eindhoven in Holland to exit the Champions League, Rangers chairman John Bennett has decided to continue with Michael Beale.
Bennett and the Light Blues management, as exclusively revealed by Record Sport, are being calm for the time being, but many of the Ibrox legions aren’t being so understanding. The turning moment for a sizable portion of the Rangers fanbase occurred on Sunday when they witnessed their team lose 1-0 at home to an undermanned Celtic squad.
And they believe that supporting the Englishman, who has been in the hot seat at Ibrox for 10 months, is just postponing what will eventually happen. Before a difficult journey to St Johnstone, who held the champions to a goalless draw on their home ground, on their return, Beale has the international break to attempt and make things right. If Beale makes one more mistake, the pressure will likely increase since, even at this early point, if the distance widens, Beale will be far behind in the battle for the crown. Those who support managers remaining with them frequently use Alex Ferguson at Manchester United as an example after he recovered from a rocky beginning.
However, things don’t always turn out that way. Here, Record Sport reviews instances in which the Gers’ managers faced early-season pressure and how the board responded.
2022–2023 Gio van Bronckhorst
In a horrifying three-game stretch during which they were pummeled by Celtic, Ajax, and Napoli, the Dutchman surrendered ELEVEN goals with no response, leaving him helpless. At the end of October, they were down by four points in the Scottish Premiership following a lackluster home draw against Livingston. Fans could see the end was near at that moment, but Van Bronckhorst continued limping, notably in a home victory over Aberdeen that they won easily after falling down 1-0 under the leadership of then-QPR manager Michael Appleton.
Beale is observing from a stand. They continued to support him after what appeared to be the final straw—a loss at St. Johnstone in November—until a draw at St. Mirren just before the winter break, which proved to be the end.
2017–18 Pedro Caixinha
The Portuguese, like Michael Beale, had arrived the season before, giving them the opportunity to evaluate the team and then carry out a significant summer rebuild. After a lopsided Scottish Cup semifinal loss to Celtic at Hampden and a 5-1 thrashing at home by Brendan Rodgers’ team, alarm bells had already started to sound. However, a new season brought with it a new chance. However, it had a poor start.
– very poorly – when they were eliminated from the Europa League as a result of an embarrassing loss to Progres Niederkorn. Talk of tension in the locker room arose after draws against Hearts at home and Partick Thistle away, as well as a home Old Firm defeat in September. Many supporters had already made up their minds by that point, but he persisted until back-to-back away victories at Hamilton and St. Johnstone gave him a reprieve before a League Cup loss to Motherwell and a home tie against Kilmarnock led to his execution.
(2017) Mark Warburton
The Englishman was chosen for the last stage of The Journey to the Scottish Premiership from and was successful in returning Rangers to the top flight, which was his major aim at the time.
the lowest division of Scottish soccer. However, a draw against Hamilton Accies at home on the first day, a tie at Rugby Park, and a 5-1 humiliation at the hands of Celtic at Parkhead raised serious doubts.
Many would have made the decision after a scoreless draw with Ross County at home and a loss to Aberdeen at Pittodrie at the end of September. But the board persisted, and the ex-Brentford manager wasn’t fired until February of the following year.
2006–2007 Paul Le Guen
The Frenchman was heralded as a great coup, but the ex-Lyon manager didn’t do as well in Scotland. In his first three league games, he had two draws, lost his first Old Firm derby at Parkhead, and bowed out of the League Cup at St. Johnstone’s request at home in November. The goalless draw against St. Mirren at home on December 30 should have been the tipping point, but he continued for another month instead.
2004–2005: Alex McLeish
With five titles in his first two seasons, including a triple in 2003, the Aberdeen and Scotland icon silenced his detractors. But after a trophyless season in 2003–2004, that was a distant memory, and he began the following campaign under pressure. After being eliminated by CSKA from the Champions League, the tension increased before Maritimo defeated them away from home in the UEFA Cup for the first leg of their qualifying match, but they narrowly avoided defeat.
through on penalties in the rematch against the Portuguese team. Despite complaints throughout the season as they attempted to catch up to Celtic, McLeish’s team persisted and famously won the championship on Helicopter Sunday.
Given his track record at Ibrox, it’s difficult to imagine the late famous gaffer would have been under pressure. But can you imagine how supporters felt after losing THREE games in a week? That’s how social media users reacted to Michael Beale on Sunday. That is what happened when the Light Blues lost the first Old Firm derby of the season at home in addition to exiting the Champions League and League Cup to AEK Athens and Falkirk.
Walter Smith – 1994/95 and 2008/09
Smith had credit in the bank, no doubt, but considering what he had accomplished, spending a lot of money that summer on celebrities like Basile Boli and a certain Brian Laudrup meant he would still be feeling the heat. He persevered, though, and eventually won the league. The second spell he cast had the same effect. In his first full season back in command, Smith guided Rangers to the UEFA Cup final in addition to winning the League Cup and Scottish Cup.
However, the league was the important one, and he had lost on the penultimate day of the 2007–2008 campaign. In the opening round of the Champions League qualifications, Rangers was defeated by Kaunas.
subsequent campaign with a disastrous outcome. Smith’s team lost at home in the Old Firm derby in December, putting them SEVEN points behind Celtic despite not having the distraction of Europe. Many believed that to be the end of Rangers and perhaps even Smith. But David Murray stood by his man, and his expertise was crucial as he recovered to win the first of three consecutive championships.
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