Mark Warburton (2015 to 2017)
Mark Warburton became owner Dave King’s first permanent appointment as manager when he agreed a 3-year contract in the summer of 2015. His remit was simple, he had to get Rangers out of the Championship and back into Scottish Football’s top-flight. It was non-negotiable.
Warburton’s path into top level management had not been a typical one. His playing days had seen him turn out for Enfield and Boreham Wood at non-league level before a career change took him to London where he would become a currency dealer in the City. It was a successful move and one which provided Mark with financial security and the means to pursue his dream of returning to the game in a coaching capacity, initially travelling around Europe studying the training methods of many elite sides.
A coaching job with Watford’s youngsters followed and Mark would become manager of their Academy before leaving to joint Brentford, initially as first team coach. At the end of 2013 he became manager of the Bees and would guide the side to promotion. He came close to a second successive promotion (into the Premiership) before deciding his future lay elsewhere. It had been an impressive introduction to management and Mark was attracting admirers far and wide.
Despite Rangers facing an unexpected second season in the Championship, the lure of landing one of Britain’s most high-profile jobs was too great and Warburton headed North of the Border. Assisted by former captain Davie Weir, they would team up with head of recruitment Frank McParland.
Rangers took to the pitch at Easter Road on 25th July 2015 in Warburton’s first game in charge and a new look side (containing 6 debutants) thrashed Hibernian 6-2. Whilst it may have been in the somewhat less important Challenge Cup, it immediately sent a message to a Leith side who would clearly be the main obstacle in our quest for automatic promotion.
When the league campaign started, Rangers hit the ground running, winning the first 11 matches and scoring 34 goals in the process. Hibernian was once again defeated, this time at Ibrox courtesy of a stunning James Tavernier goal. Warburton’s signing of Tavernier would prove to be sensational business for the Club. If Rangers had been accused of lacking a style of play in the lower leagues, all of that had changed under Warburton. The mantra was to play out from the back, to be brave in possession where ball retention was everything. The possession statistics were staggering at times and the Rangers fans were thoroughly enjoying this new brand of football.
A Scottish Cup SF would see Rangers paired with Celtic, the Championship League leaders against the Premiership leaders. Many doubted whether Warburton would set his side up to play in the same manner against this level of opponent but he stuck by his philosophy and Rangers pulled off one of the great victories (winning on penalties). It was a sensational moment for the Rangers fans after years of suffering.
However, the swashbuckling style left Rangers vulnerable defensively. As the season progressed those frailties were exploited more frequently. The title was eventually secured with a win over Dumbarton, Tavernier again on target.
The disappointment of losing in the final of the Scottish Cup was followed by an indifferent return to the Premiership. The introduction of summer signings, whilst providing more experience, appeared to disrupt the rhythm of the side. Warburton seemed unwilling to change his approach when it consistently wasn’t working. The management team left the Club in February 2017, and the circumstances of their departure were somewhat confusing.
by Rick Plews
Mark Warburton (2015 to 2017)
Mark Warburton became owner Dave King’s first permanent appointment as manager when he agreed a 3-year contract in the summer of 2015. His remit was simple, he had to get Rangers out of the Championship and back into Scottish Football’s top-flight. It was non-negotiable.
Warburton’s path into top level management had not been a typical one. His playing days had seen him turn out for Enfield and Boreham Wood at non-league level before a career change took him to London where he would become a currency dealer in the City. It was a successful move and one which provided Mark with financial security and the means to pursue his dream of returning to the game in a coaching capacity, initially travelling around Europe studying the training methods of many elite sides.
A coaching job with Watford’s youngsters followed and Mark would become manager of their Academy before leaving to joint Brentford, initially as first team coach. At the end of 2013 he became manager of the Bees and would guide the side to promotion. He came close to a second successive promotion (into the Premiership) before deciding his future lay elsewhere. It had been an impressive introduction to management and Mark was attracting admirers far and wide.
Despite Rangers facing an unexpected second season in the Championship, the lure of landing one of Britain’s most high-profile jobs was too great and Warburton headed North of the Border. Assisted by former captain Davie Weir, they would team up with head of recruitment Frank McParland.
Rangers took to the pitch at Easter Road on 25th July 2015 in Warburton’s first game in charge and a new look side (containing 6 debutants) thrashed Hibernian 6-2. Whilst it may have been in the somewhat less important Challenge Cup, it immediately sent a message to a Leith side who would clearly be the main obstacle in our quest for automatic promotion.
When the league campaign started, Rangers hit the ground running, winning the first 11 matches and scoring 34 goals in the process. Hibernian was once again defeated, this time at Ibrox courtesy of a stunning James Tavernier goal. Warburton’s signing of Tavernier would prove to be sensational business for the Club. If Rangers had been accused of lacking a style of play in the lower leagues, all of that had changed under Warburton. The mantra was to play out from the back, to be brave in possession where ball retention was everything. The possession statistics were staggering at times and the Rangers fans were thoroughly enjoying this new brand of football.
A Scottish Cup SF would see Rangers paired with Celtic, the Championship League leaders against the Premiership leaders. Many doubted whether Warburton would set his side up to play in the same manner against this level of opponent but he stuck by his philosophy and Rangers pulled off one of the great victories (winning on penalties). It was a sensational moment for the Rangers fans after years of suffering.
However, the swashbuckling style left Rangers vulnerable defensively. As the season progressed those frailties were exploited more frequently. The title was eventually secured with a win over Dumbarton, Tavernier again on target.
The disappointment of losing in the final of the Scottish Cup was followed by an indifferent return to the Premiership. The introduction of summer signings, whilst providing more experience, appeared to disrupt the rhythm of the side. Warburton seemed unwilling to change his approach when it consistently wasn’t working. The management team left the Club in February 2017, and the circumstances of their departure were somewhat confusing.
by Rick Plews
