Rangers will host former European powerhouse St Etienne on Wednesday, July 22, in a friendly that marks a personal redemption arc for both the club and their manager Ian Cathro. The 7:45pm kick-off at Ibrox sees Cathro return to Scotland after a turbulent spell at Hearts, where his appointment at age 30 was widely seen as premature.
Cathro's Journey: From Hearts to St Etienne
Cathro first gained prominence at Dundee United before his work as an assistant to Nuno at Valencia earned him the Hearts job in 2016. However, his tenure at Tynecastle ended after just seven months, with the club languishing in the bottom half of the Scottish Premiership. Since then, Cathro has rebuilt his reputation in Portugal, guiding Estoril to a respectable finish in the Primeira Liga. His success there made him a sought-after coach, with interest from other Portuguese clubs, but he chose St Etienne, a club with a storied history but recent struggles.
St Etienne's Ambitions and Challenges
St Etienne, known as Les Verts, narrowly missed out on European Cup glory in 1976, losing to Bayern Munich at Hampden Park. The club has been attempting to return to Ligue 1 after suffering a 4-1 playoff defeat to Nice last season, failing to secure automatic promotion despite significant investment. Former Aberdeen managerial target Eirik Horneland departed in January 2026, replaced temporarily by Philippe Montanier. Cathro is now tasked with ensuring the club does not misfire again in its promotion bid.
Cathro's first major signing was Jakob Breum, a long-term Celtic target, from Go Ahead Eagles. Breum aims to bounce back after a down season in the Eredivisie. The match against Rangers will be an early test for Cathro's revamped side.
A Warm Reception Expected for Cathro
Cathro will face Derek McInnes, the former Aberdeen manager who now leads Rangers. McInnes publicly supported Cathro during his difficult spell at Hearts, stating: I think he deserves the opportunity to take the job on. Looking at his team, you can see there are already little subtle changes and he has put his stamp on them. There is always a healthy respect between managers in our league and I obviously wish Ian well.
The two share a mutual respect, and a warm reception is expected from both camps.
The friendly offers Rangers a chance to test their squad against a historically significant opponent, while for St Etienne and Cathro, it represents another step in their respective comebacks.
