‘Rohl jumps from Wednesday frying pan into Rangers furnace’

Danny Rohl learned the ropes of crisis management at Sheffield Wednesday.

Sheffield Wednesday’s quirky atmosphere under the ownership of Thai tuna mogul Dejphon Chansiri can be viewed as an 89-game prelude for the German.

Rohl now steps into the role of the new head coach for Rangers, transitioning from frying pan to furnace.

He becomes the eighth permanent manager or head coach of the Ibrox side in just over ten years and the 16th if you include all the interim appointments that have crossed their path.

Only one of the prior seven Rangers managers has reached 100 games—Steven Gerrard—with many of the others lasting significantly shorter periods.

Russell Martin was in charge for 17 games, Pedro Caixinha lasted 26, Michael Beale had 43 games, Giovanni van Bronckhorst didn’t exceed 70, and Philippe Clement fell short of 90.

Having withdrawn his application just last week—awaiting clarification on what prompted the change—Rohl has opted to join a club brimming with strife and uncertainty at all levels, coming in as a third-choice candidate (that we are aware of) in a place besieged by disgruntled fans.

For a significant period, boardroom turmoil was as intrinsic to Rangers as the mascot Broxi Bear – a constantly shifting array of owners, chairmen, chief executives, sports directors, and scouting experts.

And, undoubtedly, failed players, financial mismanagement, and meager trophy haul.

The new management was meant to end this chaos, yet it has persisted. Stability was promised, but instead, there is widespread dissent and unprecedented levels of anger.

Chairman Andrew Cavenagh, vice-chairman Paraag Marathe, chief executive Patrick Stewart, and sporting director Kevin Thelwell have accomplished a remarkable feat, making a subpar team even worse despite investing £30m-£40m.

With their hiring of Martin, the botched attempt to secure Gerrard, and their absurd pursuit of Kevin Muscat, Stewart and Thelwell have been depicted, both online and offline, as a comedic duo reminiscent of Laurel and Hardy, or Dumb and Dumber.

They are received at Ibrox with about as much enthusiasm as a late goal from Celtic.

So, welcome to Glasgow, Danny. We trust you are arriving fully aware of what lies ahead.

You find yourself at the helm of a squad that many Rangers supporters claim is the worst they have ever witnessed, while several individuals at the club’s leadership—Stewart, Thelwell, and Thelwell’s son, Robbie—are viewed by fans as unwanted. They seem intent on driving these individuals out.

You witnessed the fate of your predecessor—ushered from Falkirk Stadium by police on his last day.

You will likely have the opportunity to prove you’re driving change—consider it a match or two—before the pressure mounts.

While the supporters won’t target you as fiercely as they did Martin—directing their ire primarily towards those higher up—they are volatile, so best not to provoke them.

It is reasonable to assume that the transfer budget, or most of it, has been exhausted, so don’t expect to bring in a plethora of new players in January.

Even if there were available funds, much of that responsibility lies with Thelwell Sr., the individual who deemed it wise to invest £8m in a striker who has managed three goals in over 50 appearances throughout his career. Youssef Chermiti is only 21, but transforming him into a prolific scorer is likely to be a pressing item on Rohl’s agenda.

Creating something good from very limited resources might not sum up the entire role, but it’s a considerable aspect now.

One could argue that Rohl, with his managerial experience under 100 games, has taken on one of the most challenging roles in European or even world football.

The intense nature of his new surroundings, mired in chaos, will likely be shocking.

He might believe he’s ready for it. Others have thought the same.

For ten years, supporters have been counting managers in and out, and all the frustration from witnessing failed tenures in the past tends to hover over the new manager like an ominous cloud.

It’s unjust, but it is the reality.

Rohl’s reputation is extremely favorable, with players praising his numerous abilities. Barry Bannan declares he’s the finest manager he’s encountered.

While it isn’t the same, he has previously succeeded within a demanding environment. At Sheffield, before his appointment, the team was enduring the worst start to a season in more than 150 years.

He had an owner, Chansiri, who could be described as eccentric, to put it mildly. He dealt with fans who were distressed over various issues and players who often faced demoralization and even unpaid wages.

Thus, while Rohl is only 36, he has encountered the tumultuous side of football. He may be young, but he might not be naive. One would hope not, for his own benefit. Once a defender, an ACL injury at 21 cut short his playing career. It such determination and skill that he has displayed since that point.

Every Rangers supporter will be familiar with the outline of his background, having held assistant management roles at RB Leipzig, Southampton, Bayern Munich, and the German national team.

He has stated previously that he does not adhere to dogma and is not confined to a single system. He is adaptable, whether it’s 4-2-3-1, 3-4-3, 4-4-1-1, or other formations. It seems he has experimented with all configurations at some stage depending on the challenges he faced.

Testimonies abound regarding the countless hours he dedicated at Sheffield Wednesday and the improvements he achieved with players, Djeidi Gassama, now at Rangers, being one of many.

The supporters appreciated and respected him. He maintained Wednesday’s league status when most had given up hope. He raised them to 12th the following season with a team full of vigor and unity, despite the madness orchestrated by Chansiri behind the scenes.

The fans did not wish to see him depart at the conclusion of his second season last July, though they believed he was wise to leave the messy situation.

He referenced financial troubles and complete communication breakdowns with Chansiri as reasons for the mutually agreed contract termination.

Rohl has remarked that the size of the challenge at Rangers is part of the attraction, which is an expected claim, but fans have heard too many platitudes from various managers to be reassured by mere rhetoric.

By winning matches, he may keep a low profile like a Trappist monk. If he fails to secure victories, even the eloquence of the greatest speaker won’t save him. It has always been this way.