Michael Beale (2022 to 2023)
Former first team coach Michael Beale returned to Rangers on 28th November 2022, appointed Manager following a short spell in charge of Queens Park Rangers.
A vastly experienced Academy coach, Michael’s association with Rangers dated back to the summer of 2018 when he arrived at Ibrox as part of Steven Gerrard’s backroom staff. Gerrard, in his first managerial role, relied heavily on Beale and players were quick to acknowledge Michael’s contribution on the training ground. There was absolutely no doubting that Gerrard was the boss but, rightly or wrongly, the perception was that Beale was instrumental in providing the tactical input as Rangers impressed in the European arena and, eventually, managing to halt Celtic’s league title sequence.
On leaving abruptly to join Aston Villa, Beale appeared to be spared much of the animosity directed towards Gerrard and (to a lesser degree) Gary McAllister, instead ingratiating himself with the Gers support via social media platforms. His subsequent decision to leave Villa, and take his first step into management, saw him join QPR on a 3-year contract in June 2022. An impressive start saw him immediately linked to jobs in the English Premiership and just four months into his new project he was offered the top position at Wolves. Beale rejected the offer, explaining how he was “all-in” and how “integrity and loyalty” were “big things” for him. The Loftus Road fans were delighted but it was short lived. Within weeks he was unveiled as the 18th permanent manager of Rangers. Understandably, there was much anger and resentment aimed towards Beale from those in London.
The return of Beale to Glasgow was certainly not met with great resistance, most were of the view that Giovanni Van Bronckhorst’s time was up and there seemed a lack of realistic, credible options. In Beale, they had a manager who understood the demands of the Club, knew most of the playing squad but also the financial constraints under which he would have to operate. Perhaps his previous relationship with Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent was also a factor, could his arrival persuade the two players to commit their futures having rejected all advances to sign new contracts so far? If not, Rangers were looking down the barrel of having lost out on, conservatively, £15m of potential transfer income.
As referenced in Gio’s managerial profile, the appearance of Beale at Ibrox during the 4-1 win over Aberdeen on 29th October 2022 did not reflect well on anyone at a time when Van Bronckhorst was fighting for his own survival. An afternoon mingling with fans in a well know Rangers drinking establishment followed by very public chats with injured players in the Main stand was not a helpful development for the under-pressure Van Bronckhorst. Many felt it was a case of Rangers testing the water in terms of fan reaction for what was potentially just around the corner. If contrived, it was a black mark against Beale’s character.
The 2022 World Cup allowed Beale to work with the players before the second half of the season got under way. If there seemed little prospect of catching Celtic in the title race, it was important to secure silverware in the shape of either of the domestic Cups whilst demonstrating that the gap was closing.
Beale’s first four league games in charge resulted in maximum points and, promisingly, the side began to score goals and demonstrate a spirit which had been sadly lacking in the final weeks of Van Bronckhorst’s reign. Rangers came from behind to beat Hibernian 3-2 at Ibrox and, amazingly, Aberdeen by the same scoreline at Pittodrie despite trailing 2-1 with 93 minutes on the clock! The New Year clash with Celtic also witnessed another late goal, this time Rangers conceding an equaliser resulting in the first dropped points under Beale.
A League Cup Final place was secured with a laboured win over Aberdeen at Hampden, predictably, Celtic would provide the opposition.
The signings of Todd Cantwell and Nicolas Raskin provided some optimism, both adding a freshness and energy to a side which had become somewhat stale, post 55. Results were good even if the side seemed incapable of producing a level of performance for 90 minutes. Many of the victories followed a similar pattern, an excellent twenty-or thirty-minute spell plus an hour of mediocrity at best.
Of course, the real test would come in the matches with Celtic and, sadly, Beale and his side consistently fell short. The League Cup Final was lost at Hampden with the manager facing major questions over his team selection in the 2-1 defeat. This was followed by a 3-2 loss at Parkhead in the league. Beale’s side certainly showed more on the day at Parkhead and could feel rightly aggrieved by the refereeing performance but, equally, individual mistakes and what appeared a lack of mental resolve were major factors. By the time the two sides met again in the Scottish Cup Semi-Final at Hampden, it was a match Rangers simply had to win. Despite all the usual pre-match rhetoric, Rangers failed to lay a glove on their opponents and meekly surrendered an inevitable Treble to their oldest rivals. The performances of key players Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos on the day added insult to injury.
Beale had taken over 15 games into the league campaign with Rangers already trailing Celtic by some 9 points. The season would end with that 9-point gap still in place and so he could argue that under his management Rangers had gone toe-to-toe with Celtic over a 23-game league campaign. However, Celtic’s only 2 defeats (following Beale’s arrival) came in the last 4 matches of the season with the title having already been secured (including a 3-0 drubbing at Ibrox) and herein lay the problem. There was still nothing to suggest Beale could mastermind victory in the ‘must win’ games against Celtic, the clashes when it really mattered.
It was clear that another overhaul was required in the close season and, incredibly, Beale was going to have to undertake most of this alone. Ross Wilson, the Sporting Director, had left the Club in the spring of 2023. The Managing Director, Stewart Robertson, soon followed. Both individuals had been subject to personal criticism for their performance as part of wider unrest against the existing owners / regime. The realisation that Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent would now leave the Club for free was an example of the perceived mismanagement within Ibrox. At certain points in their Ibrox careers, both players could have expected to command transfer fees in the region of £10m.
In addition to the departures of Morelos and Kent another big money signing, the almost permanently injured Filip Helander, also left for nothing at the end of his contract. 2022/23 had been one season too many for the outstanding Allan McGregor as he now called time on an excellent career. Surprisingly, Beale allowed impact player Scott Arfield to move on whilst offering the injury prone Ryan Kent a new deal. Two other influential players within the 55 winning squad were also allowed to move on. Glen Kamara was sold to Leeds United for £5M, still representing good business, whilst Ianis Hagi was sent on loan to Alaves in Spain. Hagi seemed less than enamoured with the way he had been treated by Beale and the Club, and this displeasure was replicated by Fashion Sakala who was transferred to Al-Fayha for £4M.
Rangers could not be accused of failing to back Beale in that summer of 2023 and the rookie manager was allowed to spend significant sums of money on Sam Lammers, Danilo and Cyriel Dessers. Jose Cifuentes would arrive towards the end of that window with Beale famously stating that the Ecuador international would take the side to “another level”. In addition to the hefty transfer fees paid for those 4 players, England goalkeeper Jack Butland arrived on a ‘free’ thus commanding a huge signing on fee and with wages to match. Having been deemed surplus to requirements a year earlier, 35-year-old Leon Balogun returned to Ibrox having also worked with Beale at QPR. Kieran Dowell, another injury plagued midfielder, arrived from Norwich on a Free as did highly rated Chelsea defended Dujon Stirling. Loan signing, Abdallah Sima, joined from Brighton for the season and came with a good reputation.
There was genuine optimism going into the start of season 2023/24 but, inexplicably, the writing seemed to be on the wall for Beale by full time on the opening day of the league campaign as Rangers crashed to defeat at Rugby Park. After a number of unconvincing pre-season matches, including a woeful performance against Olympiacos at Ibrox, the campaign got off the worst possible start when Brad Lyons scored the only goal for Kilmarnock after 65 minutes. With Cantwell surprisingly starting on the bench, none of the summer signings featuring made any significant impact and the atmosphere amongst the Gers support at full time was toxic. Beale stated “there are 37 games to go, so let’s not get carried away. The excitement over the summer is going the be tempered”. As harsh as it sounds, it already felt like Beale was on borrowed time.
Rangers negotiated the 3rd qualifying round of the Champions League with a 3-2 aggregate win over Servette of Switzerland and would now face old foes PSV Eindhoven in the play off. Wins over Livingston in the League and Greenock Morton in the League Cup (coming from behind to progress 2-1) would give Beale some breathing room. A 2-2 draw with PSV at home (despite having led twice) replicated the result from 12m earlier. However, there was no repeat of that 1-0 win in Eindhoven under GVB, Rangers this time on the end of 5-1 drubbing under Beale. Next up was Celtic at Ibrox and, once again, Beale’s side failed when it really mattered, a Furuhashi strike deep into first half injury time proving the difference. Despite a winning start to the Europa League campaign, a 1-3 reversal to Aberdeen at Ibrox saw Rangers fall 7 points behind Celtic after just 7 games and Beale was sacked. The Club stated that results had “fallen short of what everyone connected to Rangers would expect”.
For the third successive year, Rangers would be forced into a mid-season managerial change before the dawn of winter.
There were few supporters who felt the removal of Beale was the wrong decision. To many, he was completely out his depth, the perception being that he had often talked a good game but should have been nowhere near the hot seat. The dysfunctional board and overall structure within the Club was undoubtedly a factor, not only were they willing to give Beale the job but ultimately appeared to hand him free reign over recruitment. Whilst undoubtedly done with the best of intention, the consequences of that summer transfer outlay remain an ongoing issue today.
On leaving Rangers, Michael Beale was soon appointed head coach of Championship side Sunderland. He was sacked after just 12 games, the shortest stint for a permanent manager in Sunderland’s history. In November 2024, Beale was somewhat surprisingly reunited with Steven Gerrard when he joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq as Assistant Manager. Less than three months later, Gerrard left my mutual consent after 18 months in time with Beale also departing.
by Rick Plews
