Kevin Muscat could now be out of Rangers’ reach after the Aussie’s latest title-winning exploits after being tipped to get the chance to follow in Ange Postecoglou’s footsteps for a THIRD time by being offered the opportunity to move to Glasgow.
That is the view of a leading football pundit Down Under who reckons the 51-year-old former Light Blues defender is set for much bigger and better things after clinching the Chinese Super League with Shanghai Port at the weekend.
That was Muscat’s third championship in a different country having previously won titles in Australia and Japan, becoming only the second manager from his homeland to achieve such a feat after Postecoglou (Australia, Japan and Scotland).
In Muscat’s two previous occasions he had followed in the ex Celtic manager’s footsteps and critics pointed to the fact Postecoglou had already laid the foundations for success. Muscat himself rejected that, saying: “To step into his footsteps twice, it’s not as easy as it bloody seems, trust me. It’s not that easy to follow the big fella.” And it couldn’t be levelled at him in China.
Muscat is now being touted to follow Postecolgou’s path again, albeit if he pitches up in Glasgow it would be on the opposite side of the bitter Old Firm divide at the club he helped win a treble in his solitary season at Ibrox as a player under Alex McLeish. And how ironic that it’s his former boss Postecoglou who could help open the door.
In a column in the Sydney Morning Herald, they said: “Twelve months ago, Muscat was one of two final candidates for the vacant job at Rangers. Rangers went for Philippe Clement, a three-time Belgian Pro League winner – and in retrospect, it was a mistake.
“Clement is now under pressure to keep his job. If Rangers continue to struggle, the axe will swing on Clement; as it happens, they face Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League on December 12, if he lasts that long.
“The question will then surely be asked of Muscat, but he may not say yes. Having recently turned down the opportunity to coach the Socceroos, Muscat’s sights may be set higher than Scotland. His resume is now seriously impressive. Muscat’s haul of titles in multiple countries is proof his formula can bring success in different cultures. He is the kind of progressive manager that clubs in Europe are increasingly looking for.”
Muscat’s fellow Aussie and former Rangers team-mate Craig Moore revealed his old pal was “devastated” at losing out to Clement and that there might be little chance of getting him. He told Go Radio: “He had two interviews at the time and he lost out and he was devastated to lose out at the time to Philippe Clement. He thought it was a great opportunity for him and it would have been a great job but Kevin now is doing a great job in China and that ship has well and truly sailed.”