Rangers set up a pre-season friendly with Ian's Saint-Étienne
According to Sports.
Context
Ian Cathro, now coach of Saint-Étienne, has a mixed career record, including spells at clubs in the Scottish Premiership and the First League. His experience in several leagues, including Ligue 2, will be tested in this match, where he will look to show that his team can compete at a high level against one of Scotland's most traditional clubs.
Why this matters
This pre-season friendly is a crucial opportunity for Rangers to test their form before the start of the new Scottish Premiership season. Facing a team like Saint-Étienne, under the leadership of Ian Cathro, who has experience in several leagues, including the Primeira Liga and Ligue 2, could provide a good challenge for the Glasgow team.
Main conclusions
- Rangers set up a pre-season friendly with Ian's Saint-Étienne.
- Rangers confirm pre-season friendly against Ian Cathro's Saint-Étienne, at Ibrox, on July 22, in the first public game of the summer, before hosting West Ham.
- Ian Cathro remains central to Rangers's plans.
Rangers have announced a pre-season friendly with Saint-Étienne, managed by Ian Cathro, scheduled for Wednesday 22nd July at Ibrox. It will be the first preparation game open to the public for the Glasgow team this summer, serving as a European-level test before the official start of the season.
Cathro, a 39-year-old Scottish coach, was appointed this summer as head coach of the historic French club, who finished third in the French second tier last season. The coach arrives after receiving praise during his time at Estoril, leading the Canarinhos to 10th place in a Primeira Liga with 18 teams. Previously, he began his career on the coaching staff at Dundee United and had a short spell as head coach at Hearts, which ended in August 2017 after eight months. This was followed by work as an assistant at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Al-Ittihad, before returning to the main role at Estoril in 2024.
The duel at Ibrox also adds a point of historical and personal interest. During the time he managed Hearts, Cathro faced Derek McInnes' Aberdeen — now Rangers' new coach — three times and lost all of those encounters. On a European level, Rangers and Saint-Étienne have already faced each other twice in UEFA competitions: in 1957, the Glasgow team progressed in the European Cup with a 4-3 aggregate in the first round; in 1975, the French won home and away in the second round.
Rangers' preparation schedule continues four days after the test against Saint-Étienne, again at Ibrox, against West Ham United, recently relegated to the English Championship. Before these games with the public, the Glasgow team beat Raith Rovers 5-1 behind closed doors, an attempt that served to gain a competitive rhythm and experiment with solutions.
For fans at Ibrox, the friendly with Saint-Étienne will allow them to closely observe the first signs of the Derek McInnes era and assess the team's chemistry against an opponent with a tradition in French football. On the other hand, it will also be the first public opportunity to see Ian Cathro's Saint-Étienne in action, now preparing a season with ambition after finishing third in the second tier. With two international matches at home in the space of four days, the Rangers are putting together a robust pre-season start, balancing competitive load and moments to fine-tune ideas before the official kick-off.
What happens next
After the game against Saint-Étienne, Rangers have a meeting scheduled with West Ham, which will also be an opportunity to fine-tune the team before the official start of the season. Performance in this friendly could influence Derek McInnes' tactical decisions and preparation for challenges in the league and European competitions.
Frequently asked questions
What happened to the Rangers recently?
Rangers have announced a pre-season friendly with Saint-Étienne, scheduled for July 22 at Ibrox.
Who confirmed the friendly match between Rangers and Saint-Étienne?
Rangers have confirmed their pre-season friendly with Saint-Étienne.
Why is this game important now for the Rangers?
This game will serve as a test of European level before the official start of the season.
What a change
What happened at Saint-Étienne?
Ian Cathro has been appointed as the new head coach of Saint-Étienne.
What is the history between Rangers and Saint-Étienne?
Rangers and Saint-Étienne have already faced each other twice in UEFA competitions, with one victory for each side.