Michael Beale appointed Rangers manager as QPR boss makes stunning Ibrox return
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MICHAEL BEALE has been named the next manager of Rangers - just 12 months after he left the club as part of Steven Gerrard's coaching team.
The Englishman leaves Queen's Park Rangers as he succeeds the sacked Giovanni van Bronckhorst to become the club's EIGHTEENTH permanent manager after agreeing a three-and-a-half year deal at Ibrox.
And he has his work cut out immediately - as he bids to overhaul a NINE-point deficit on reigning champs and early-season Premiership leaders Celtic.
Announcing his appointment, a statement from Rangers read: "Michael Beale is the 18th manager of Rangers with the club delighted to confirm his appointment today.
"Signing a contract to 2026, the 42 year-old joins from his role as manager of Queens’ Park Rangers in West London having previously worked as first-team coach at Ibrox from 2018 to last November.
"It is an exciting appointment for the club, with Beale undoubtedly one of the most sought-after young managers in British football."
Rangers Chairman, Douglas Park, said: “I am delighted to welcome Michael as our new manager as we aim to strengthen our on-field performance.
"Michael is a very exciting appointment for us, and his energy and ambition stood out both when he was here previously, and in the discussions we have had prior to him re-joining.
“The board will support both Michael and Ross Wilson to make this appointment a success, and I wish him the very best going forward."
On his appointment, Beale said: “It is fantastic to be back and to see everybody this morning, there are some new faces but some people that I know really well so it is great to see everyone.
"I am hugely proud, it is a wonderful, wonderful football club, it is an institution. For everyone that works here it is a huge privilege, but to be the manager of this football club, that is extremely special. Some wonderful people have sat in this chair prior to me, and I am hugely proud to be the person sat here now.
The announcement comes just weeks after reports suggested Beale knocked back the chance to become manager of Wolves.
Riding high in the Championship with QPR as recently as a month ago, results have tailed off recently.
The Englishman made a visit to Ibrox to take in the 4-1 win over Aberdeen - spending some time mixing with fans in the nearby Louden Tavern before the match.
Rangers will be the biggest job of Beale's career - and caps a remarkable rise for the former Chelsea and Liverpool youth coach.
Making the acquaintance of former Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard during his time working in the Liverpool academy, Beale cut his teeth in the senior game as assistant boss to Rogerio Ceni at Sao Paolo.
But before long Beale was being recruited by Rangers supremo Dave King as Steven Gerrard's first team coach.
Three and a half seasons at Ibrox culminated in the Ibrox men stopping Celtic's ten-in-a-row bid as they claimed their first title in a decade.
The Gers were also four points clear when Aston Villa came calling for Gerrard 12 months ago, only for the Liverpool icon's time to turn sour.
Things also unravalled for the Ibrox men under Van Bronckhorst, even though he took them to the Europa League final and back into the Champions League.
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Beale left Gerrard's side back in the summer for his brief stint at Queen's Park Rangers but he is moving on again as he returns to Glasgow.
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