Derek McInnes donned club gear and presented himself bluntly at his first press conference as Rangers manager. At 54 years old, the coach described the role as an old dream, but avoided grandiose promises: the objective is to change standards and mentality to return the good times to Ibrox.
“If we don’t win trophies, someone else will be here in a short time,” he admitted, before reinforcing confidence in the project: “With the resources, infrastructure and support from the board, this has to be a winning team.”
Alongside McInnes, executive director Jim Gillespie was emphatic: the former Hearts, Kilmarnock and Aberdeen coach was “the only candidate” for the vacancy. According to Gillespie, when RB Salzburg advanced through Danny Rohl, Rangers had already identified McInnes and were ready to move on. The coach himself revealed that the call-up came surprisingly, during the holiday period, and that the decision was quick, despite acknowledging that he would have “loved to have coached Hearts for longer” after a “special” season.
While praising the club's recent European performance, McInnes was clear about his priorities: fans have “suffered” due to a dearth of trophies. In 15 years, Rangers only won one championship title, one Scottish Cup and one League Cup. "We have to return to being relevant internally, winning trophies at home. This is fundamental", he stressed.
The new coach acknowledged that the team has been the target of questions about mentality in decisive moments — something he says he knows well, remembering that last season he overcame Rangers as Hearts coach. Therefore, the profile of reinforcements will adjust: "We work to bring players capable of dealing with the demand and adding the quality we need. What happened last season is not enough."
At Ibrox, McInnes takes on the role of “manager”, not just “head coach”, a sign of greater involvement beyond the pitch. Regarding recruitment, he explained that it was a collaborative process with technical director Dan Purdy, sporting director Stig Inge Bjørnebye, the administration and the scouting department — but with the final decision resting with him. “I have guarantees that each player signed will have my final approval”, he highlighted, admitting that, although there is a model, not all signings will be designed solely for development and resale.
As for his playing philosophy, McInnes was pragmatic: “Here you have to win.” Still, he wants to replicate the aggression and consistency that his Hearts showed at home last season, returning the “fear factor” to those who visit Ibrox. "We cannot allow teams to feel comfortable. Being Rangers requires quality, identity and intensity to win domestically."