Kevin Muscat embodies Rangers mentality with 'only one thing that matters' managerial plea

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Kevin Muscat might count himself unlucky that he wasn't handed the Rangers manager's gig prior to Philippe Clement taking the reins.

Australian coach Kevin Muscat has been making waves out East, impressing in the Aussie A-League before winning championships in Japan and now China.

Rangers spoke to Muscat after the sacking of Michael Beale, with the notoriously hot-headed former midfielder spending a season at Ibrox back in 02/03.

But after Rangers plunged on Clement – even ignoring Graeme Souness' calls to install Frank Lampard – Muscat eventually wound up moving to Shanghai Port.

After Muscat led the Chinese Super League side to a legendary double last season, the coach has had his heart broken in the hunt for Champions League success.

But comments the Australian manager, 51, made about how crucial winning is will once again whet the appetite of some fans to see Muscat installed as the 20th permanent Rangers manager.

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Kevin Muscat sends 'only one thing that matters' Rangers manager message

Kevin Muscat faced off against his old side in the Asian Champions League as Shanghai Port came up against Yokohama F Marinos.

Muscat replaced Ange Postecoglou at the Japanese outfit after the Aussie coach had moved to Celtic, guiding the club to the title in 2022.

The Japanese side, now led by Englishman Steve Holland, would romp to a 5-1 aggregate victory over the Chinese club over two legs.

But Muscat's impact over his old side was apparent come full time, as he embraced several of the players he managed during his time in Japan.

Ahead of the second leg, comments made by Muscat about being a serial winner are sure to stand out to Rangers fans as the club continues its hunt for a new manager.

“In 30-odd years of being a professional I have learnt that there’s only one thing that matters,” Muscat told Reuters ahead of the second leg against Yokohama, which Shanghai would lose 4-1.

“There’s only one thing that I put all my energy into at this moment in time, and that’s giving the players everything they possibly need to perform well enough to win a game of football.

“It’s in my genes, it’s in my DNA to want to win titles. That’s something that cannot be decided tomorrow night but, in the long term, performances are what wins titles and what wins trophies.

“All the focus goes into performance. It’s great to be back to see so many familiar faces, even in this room, but all my energy will be placed on performing well enough to win tomorrow night.”

Kevin Muscat 'ship has well and truly sailed' for Rangers

Former Rangers captain Craig Moore has routinely talked up Kevin Muscat's credentials but the legendary Aussie centre-back reckons the 'ship has sailed' on his old teammate for Rangers.

It comes after Moore claims Rangers held two interviews with Muscat before moving for Clement.

Moore claimed that Muscat was 'devastated' to miss out on the opportunity and reckons the chance to sign the Aussie as manager has been and gone.

"He had two interviews at the time and he lost out and he was devastated to lose out at the time to Philippe Clement," Moore told the Daily Record in September 2024.

"He thought it was a great opportunity for him and it would have been a great job but Kevin now is doing a great job in China and that ship has well and truly sailed."

Kevin Muscat would sign a new deal with Shanghai Port in the summer with the Australian routinely linked to top jobs around Europe.

Even now, Muscat remains a popular figure amongst Rangers fans as the club looks to assess its options before appointing a permanent manager in the summer.

Barry Ferguson isn't doing a bad job as Rangers manager himself, mind you.