Rangers want Ancelotti! Scottish giants eye Carlo's assistant coach son Davide as new manager as Steven Gerrard's potential Ibrox return takes unexpected twist

According to Diario AS, Rangers appear to be leaning towards the 35-year-old Italian tactician over a possible return for former boss Gerrard. The Scottish Premiership side are actively working to secure a permanent replacement for Philippe Clement, who was dismissed earlier this year after a 16-month tenure. Barry Ferguson, the former Rangers captain, has stepped in as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

Having spent his entire coaching journey alongside his father, Davide Ancelotti could now be ready to step into the spotlight on his own. From Paris Saint-Germain to Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton, and currently Real Madrid, he has built his resume as a reliable assistant coach across Europe’s top leagues.

Should he take the Rangers job, Davide is reportedly planning to bring along fellow Real Madrid assistant Francesco Mauri as part of his technical team. Meanwhile, Carlo is set to be joined in Brazil by former Real Madrid assistant Paul Clement.

According to Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, Serie A newcomers Como are also monitoring the situation closely. If their current manager, Cesc Fabregas, departs - possibly to Bayer Leverkusen amid Xabi Alonso’s expected move to Real Madrid - they may try to persuade Ancelotti Jr. to return to Italy instead of heading to Glasgow.

The prospect of Davide landing the Rangers role could leave Gerrard disappointed. The Liverpool icon had been rumoured to be interested in returning to the Ibrox dugout, where he achieved significant success from 2018 to 2021. During his stint with Rangers, Gerrard famously halted Celtic’s nine-year title run, completing the 2020–21 league campaign unbeaten and finishing a massive 25 points ahead. However, his subsequent managerial spells have been far less fruitful. After leaving Glasgow in late 2021 to manage Aston Villa, Gerrard’s tenure lasted less than 12 months before he was let go. His move to Saudi Arabia with Al Ettifaq ended similarly, with the club in 12th place when he was relieved of his duties this January.

Although Davide will assist Carlo during Brazil’s upcoming World Cup qualifying matches against Ecuador and Paraguay, he is not expected to follow him on a full-time basis to South America.