Michael Beale has revealed the coaching method he and Steven Gerrard used at Rangers, which he believes helped the club secure the 55th league title. Beale, now manager of Belgian Pro League club Zulte Waregem, explained the approach in an interview with the Daily Mail.
Coaching method explained
Beale described the method as "you versus yourself," where every player is asked to reflect on their journey and ambitions. "We [Beale and his coaches] have this method called 'you versus yourself', every player we sit and talk to about their journey, like where they're going, where they want to get to," he said.
"Ultimately, would their team-mates pick them? It's a way of managing the players' energy and focus, to get the best out of them. We would say: person, player, team. Understand the person to understand the player and that helps the team."
Beale's career path
Beale worked alongside Gerrard at Rangers and later at Aston Villa, before being appointed Rangers manager in November 2022 after Gio van Bronckhorst was sacked. He was dismissed after a 3-1 home defeat to Aberdeen following a big-money summer recruitment drive. He also joined Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League before taking charge at Zulte Waregem.
Gerrard, who was linked with a return to Rangers but walked away from a potential comeback, remains out of work after leaving Al-Ettifaq last season.
Support for McInnes and life in Belgium
Beale also backed Derek McInnes, who led Rangers to Premier Sports Cup and Premiership wins over Celtic before the international break. "Derek McInnes, he is a friend. I always felt Derek was destined to be Rangers manager one day," Beale said.
He added: "I was just speaking to young Nico Raskin last week who I signed and he plays in the Belgian national team, he was wishing me well. Glasgow is still home for me, my sons are passionate Rangers fans so I'm never far away from that club."
Beale said he is enjoying life in Belgium, calling it "the sixth best league in the world according to votes." He added: "I still feel that I'm one of the luckiest guys in the world, I'm a football manager."
