Derek McInnes has walked into the Ibrox dugout as Rangers manager, signing a three-year contract after a compensation deal with Hearts – the same club he led to a second-placed finish just days ago, pipping the Light Blues to a Champions League spot.
The 54-year-old replaces Danny Rohl, whose move to Austrian side RB Salzburg was confirmed earlier on Wednesday. McInnes becomes the third Rangers boss inside a year, taking over a team that lost four of their final five league games and ended the season without silverware.
“Derek McInnes named Rangers manager on three-year deal after leaving Hearts, replacing Danny Rohl.”
“It is a real honour,” McInnes said. “The demands here are clear and our supporters rightfully have high expectations. It is up to me, my staff and my players to meet those expectations, and have this club performing as it should.”
The former Rangers midfielder had turned down an approach from the Ibrox club in December 2017 to stay at Aberdeen, but this time accepted, following Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland in moving across the Scottish Premiership. Alan Archibald, Paul Sheerin and Craig Clark will assist him.
While Rohl was head coach, McInnes will hold the title of manager. Chairman Andrew Cavenagh said the Scot is “someone we have always rated highly” and “exactly what this club needs at this moment in time”. Cavenagh added: “His deep Scottish and Rangers experience are important for us. He knows how to win in this league, and he is coming off an extremely strong season with Hearts.”
Rohl, 37, had replaced Russell Martin in October and steered Rangers into a three-way title fight, but a post-split collapse yielded a third-placed finish behind Celtic and Hearts. Cavenagh thanked him for his “service and commitment to Rangers”.
McInnes began his coaching career at St Johnstone in 2007, then had a stint with Bristol City. He joined Aberdeen in 2013, spending eight years at Pittodrie, lifting the League Cup in his first full season and finishing second behind Celtic in four successive campaigns. After a 10-month break, he returned with Kilmarnock in January 2022, before moving to Hearts last summer. Now he faces the task of restoring Rangers to the top of Scottish football.