New Rangers boss Danny Rohl revealed that he received a message from Barcelona manager Hansi Flick after taking charge at Ibrox Stadium. Following a long search for a new head coach, the Scottish giants zeroed in on the ex-Sheffield Wednesday manager. Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard was initially strongly linked with the job but the Englishman later pulled out of the race.

Rangers' long search for new manager

Rangers’ managerial search had been drawn out in the wake of Russell Martin's dismissal on October 5, and the Gers faced mounting criticism from supporters for the lack of clarity and direction in their decision-making. Martin’s disastrous 123-day tenure left Rangers languishing eighth in the Scottish Premiership table, well behind leaders Hearts, and out of the Champions League in the qualifying stage. The 39-year-old had faced strong opposition from the fans since the start of the 2025-26 campaign, as a section of the supporters even went public with their protests against the head coach in one of the club's Scottish League Cup clashes at Ibrox Stadium in September.

Following Martin's departure, Rangers’ leadership had initially pursued several high-profile targets, including Gerrard, who later ruled himself out of contention as he felt that the time was not right for him to return to football. Former Rangers player Kevin Muscat was also strongly linked with the job, but his candidacy collapsed despite advanced negotiations. As frustration built among the fanbase, the arrival of Rohl finally brought some relief to the Scottish giants.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportRohl reveals message from Flick

Rohl has previously worked as an assistant under Flick at Bayern Munich and then the German national team before he accepted his first senior management role at Sheffield Wednesday in 2023.

Following his appointment as new Rangers manager, Rohl revealed he got a sweet message from his former boss. The 36-year-old told : "He [Flick] wrote me a message [saying], 'Good luck and all the best', and that he's very happy I joined this club now. And that he'll cross his fingers."

He added: "It's always great to have such a message from such an experienced coach. And it's also good to know that when you need a call, then you can call him, and you can speak about football and sometimes personal and private things."

Rohl's managerial career so far

Rohl’s playing days were cut short due to a brutal ACL injury, which forced him to bring the curtain down on his career at the age of just 21. However, his rise through the coaching ranks has been rapid and impressive. At just 36, he has already built a diverse resume that includes stints as an assistant coach at RB Leipzig and working with Flick at Bayern and the German national team. Rohl's first managerial role came at Sheffield Wednesday, where he guided the team out of relegation trouble before leading them to a mid-table finish in the Championship. 

At Ibrox, Rohl will be tasked with stabilising a squad that has struggled for form and consistency. His challenge will not only involve steadying domestic form but also reviving the club’s faltering Europa League campaign, where Rangers remain winless in the league phase after defeats to Genk and Sturm Graz.

GettyRohl's immediate assignment

Rohl will have to sit in the Rangers dugout just a couple of days after his appointment as the Gers take on Brann in an Europa League clash on Thursday. Ahead of his first game in charge, the 36-year-old told reporters: "We will have some changes in the starting XI tomorrow. But after the first two days, I cannot overload the players, especially coming into a Europa League game. I am looking forward to the game. Over the last couple of days, I have seen some good things from the squad. We have to turn the negative energy into positive energy, which, from the day I met all the players, I saw that smile on the players. Over the last two days, the players have been working hard, and you will see that in the game tomorrow. It will be a fight, but we are ready for it."