Allan McGregor has revealed his surprise at being offered a permanent goalkeeping coach role at Rangers, admitting he needed several days to weigh the decision due to concerns over his qualifications and the club’s perception.
McGregor's Shock Offer
The 43-year-old Ibrox legend, who previously served as a temporary coach under Barry Ferguson in 2025, received the unexpected call from Rangers CEO Jim Gillespie. McGregor told Rangers TV: "I was shocked. I spoke to Jim a couple of days before they offered me the job. It was just a general chit-chat for an hour and a half. It never really got brought up. I met him a couple of days later and he offered me it. I was surprised."
McGregor will lead the goalkeeping department under new manager Derek McInnes, overseeing new signing Ivor Pandur, Liam Kelly, and younger shot-stoppers. This marks his first permanent coaching role after a brief stint with Ferguson's interim team at the end of the 2024/25 season.
Key Concerns Addressed
Despite the opportunity, McGregor hesitated due to two major worries: his lack of coaching badges and how the appointment might reflect on the club. He said: "I went away and spoke to my family and had a real good think about it. I thought about how it would look on the club and could I do it? Four or five days later I said yes."
Gillespie and McInnes assured him that the badge issue would not be a problem, granting him time to obtain the necessary qualifications. McGregor added: "The club always said in my last few years as a player that they'd help me get into coaching if I wanted but I was always focused on being right for games. I'd never really thought about coaching."
Long-Term Commitment
Unlike his temporary role under Ferguson, which lasted just three months, this permanent position required deeper consideration. McGregor noted: "This one took a bit more thought because of the process, the longer-term role, how it would look. Me not having my badges, having to start them. I had to think about what I would bring to that and how it would look on the club, that was important to me. But Jim said it wouldn't be a problem."
