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Headhunted by Chelsea, new Gers recruit was offered key role
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01/30/2025 01:30 AM
Rangers are attempting to move forward as a club with a new hierarchy and an acceptance that the status quo just isn’t sustainable.
Philippe Clement had little help from above for most of 2024 with the manager also inheriting a squad that perfectly told the story of how things were being run at Ibrox – with no forward planning.
Issame Charai has joined Rangers as a new assistant manager with the Belgian having a wealth of experience and a sterling reputation.
- READ MORE:Philippe Clement learns Rangers lesson with John Souttar and Vaclav Cerny back in training
When Chelsea headhunted new Rangers coach Issame Charai
Speaking to Belgian media outlet Niewusblad, the former Strasbourg assistant manager has explained how his move to France came about after being head hunted by a big spending Premier League outfit:
"I was supposed to strengthen Patrick Vieira’s technical staff, but unfortunately we were never able to work together,” Charai explained.
“You should know that Strasbourg was completely taken over by Chelsea last year. Pascal De Maesschalk (ex-Club Brugge and Monaco and now technical director at Strasbourg) had invited me to London at the request of Chelsea.
“There I spoke at length with Sam Jewell and Lawrence Stewart, Chelsea’s head of recruitment and sporting boss respectively.
“They were convinced of my qualities and wanted to pair me with Vieira at Strasbourg. After two Zoom calls, Patrick and I were convinced that we could strengthen each other.
“But after a heavy defeat in a practice match, Vieira was surprisingly fired in mid-July. I only joined afterwards.
“After a good conversation, his successor Rosenior convinced me to stay on his staff at Chelsea’s request. But we quickly came to the conclusion that we didn’t really have a match. That’s why we decided to part ways."
How Charai could bring more than just trophies to Rangers
Chelsea’s recruitment team will be infinitely bigger than Rangers’ and so will the network that they have across football and in Europe in particular.
That they saw Charai as the sort of coach who could keep Vieira right and put his philosophy into practice, rather than letting the former Arsenal man pick his own speaks volumes.
Looking at the current coaching team and there is nobody that the Rangers football department would consider as being at the desired level to take over from Clement should he leave.
Just like with players, Rangers need to identify coaches who are on an upward trajectory because, if they do a good job, not only do they bring silverware to the Ibrox trophy room, but – as seen with Steven Gerrard – they can also make the club a pound or two.