Ibrox bound: Caixinha announced as Rangers manager by old club
Al-Gharafa have announced that Pedro Caixinha has left them to take over at Rangers, with the Qatari club revealing their own new manager too.
Al-Gharafa have understandably been working things to their own timetable, and whilst there were Scottish reports Caixinha would be Rangers manager by the beginning of last week, that was never likely in reality.
Rangers have been without a permanent manager since Mark Warburton left Ibrox in February. Graeme Murty has been in temporary charge and saw his side beat Hamilton 6-0 in the Scottish Premiership a week ago, with Joe Garner getting a hat-trick, Martyn Waghorn converting a penalty and Jon Toral and Clint Hill also adding goals.
The Portuguese coach may have wanted to join Rangers and pack up for Ibrox, but there was no way Al-Gharafa would have released Caixinha before the start of their mini break on Thursday. For Al-Gharafa it’s not been about how much money they could get out of the Scottish Premiership club, they don’t need Glasgow’s riches in Qatar, but rather about respect.
Caixinha is joining Rangers ‘with the club’s consent’, Al-Gharafa have said in a statement, and they wish him every luck in his new Glasgow role. Habib Sadiq is taking over where Caixinha left off.
Murty will take charge of Rangers for the Celtic match, before handing the Ibrox reigns over to Caixinha. The Portuguese coach will hope he can work wonders with the likes of Jon Toral and any other technically gifted players he can find.
