Stuart McCall has backed Derek McInnes as the ideal candidate to replace Danny Rohl as Rangers manager, insisting his leadership qualities matter more than his Rangers background.
McCall's endorsement
McCall, a former teammate of McInnes at Ibrox, believes the departing Hearts boss is the most exciting managerial appointment since Steven Gerrard. He told Record Sport: "I'm not saying he's a Rangers man, so he's the right choice. I'm saying this because I know how Derek will be."
Leadership over background
McCall emphasized that McInnes' ability to galvanize and lead is crucial for a Rangers side that has faltered in recent seasons. "Right now, Rangers are a club and a team that need someone to galvanise them, to lead them through the tough moments. That's where they've failed in recent seasons," he said.
He added: "I've played with Derek, I've played against him, I've managed against him and know all about his make up, his strengths — and that's why this appointment is the one that has excited me most at Ibrox since Steven Gerrard."
Experience and mentality
McCall highlighted McInnes' proven track record in the Scottish Premiership, his ability to get the best out of players, and his teams' fighting spirit. He recalled battles when McInnes was at Aberdeen and McCall at Motherwell: "You always knew his team would be up for the fight, they'd go to the last whistle, they'd never chuck the towel in."
McCall believes McInnes can succeed where Rohl failed, drawing lessons from mentors Sir Alex Ferguson and Walter Smith. He stressed that Rangers need a motivator, not just a coach. "What Rangers need is someone who can motivate people," he said.
Mentality key
McCall criticized Rangers' mentality last season, saying they lacked the winning ingredient. "All last season when people were getting excited about Rangers, I couldn't see them winning that league in a month of Sundays because of the mentality at the club." He concluded: "That's why I'm so excited about Derek."
