‘Don’t even think about it’ – Alan Brazil pleads with manager not to take on Rangers job

Alan Brazil couldn’t hide his feelings after what he was told about Jose Mourinho and Rangers live on air.

Mourinho’s Fenerbahce host Rangers in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie in Istanbul on Thursday, going up against interim manager Barry Ferguson after Philippe Clement’s sacking at Ibrox.

As Rangers prepare for the cauldron-like atmosphere of the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, it remains to be seen if Ferguson can continue the good Europa League form they managed to achieve under Clement.

Ahead of next week’s second leg at Ibrox, however, Mourinho has admitted that he’d be open to managing in Scotland one day, but didn’t lean towards naming either Rangers or Celtic as his preference.

Alan Brazil urges Jose Mourinho to avoid Rangers move

While Mourinho made clear that he wouldn’t be making a switch to Scotland any time soon – at least as long as he’s still in post at Fenerbahce – Rangers could have the capacity to hire him in the near future.

The arrival of 49ers Enterprises at Ibrox this summer is expected to precede an ‘ambitious’ managerial appointment, and Alan Brazil argued that Mourinho should steer clear of Ibrox if an offer does arrive.

Speaking on talkSPORT (6 March, 6:53am), Brazil said: “Don’t even think of going there Jose – there’s only one place to go, don’t even think about it!”

“No,” Brazil hit back: “Jose’s a good guy.”

Aherne replied: “You could see him at [Rangers], they’re an iconic club – somebody like him going in, you know what I mean?”

Brazil continued: “Steady… No, I don’t know what you mean!”

Jose Mourinho swoop would change Old Firm dynamic at Rangers

The Light Blues are currently in no position to be bullish when it comes to managerial appointments, with the current Ibrox hierarchy’s sacking of Clement being their third mid-season dismissal in a row.

Rangers are still taking the financial hit from firing both Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Michael Beale in 2022 and 2023 respectively, and only clung onto Clement for so long due to financial difficulties.

However, the 49ers’ arrival at Ibrox is set to make those challenges a thing of the past, allowing Rangers to rebuild from the base and aim high when it comes to hiring a manager who can finally topple Celtic.

The likes of Rafa Benitez have already been linked – suggesting the kind of ball-park the Gers could soon be shopping in – but it remains to be seen if they’d have the capacity to bring in someone like Mourinho.

Mourinho is hardly a ‘project’ manager and is more used to coming in with silverware is the benchmark, but with that silverware potentially in Rangers’ grasp in the near future, they might just convince him.