A difficult season for Rangers saw them with three different management teams and eventually end the season in the same place as last year – third place – much to the disappointment of their fans.
There was a sense of optimism at the start of the season with signings like Bruno Alves and Carlos Pena coming in on big money contracts, but they faltered from the beginning and an embarrassing showing in Europe saw them knocked out in the first round of the Europa League at the hands of Progres Niederkorn.
After defeats to Celtic and Hibs in the opening ten games, a draw at home to Kilmarnock proved fatal for Pedro Caixinha and he was replaced by youth coach Graeme Murty for a second spell as caretaker manager. However defeats at the hands of Dundee and Hamilton suggested it was going to be a difficult job for Murty who had masterminded a draw at Parkhead the season before and did the same again this season to bolster support.
Unfortunately for Murty that was to be his best result against Rangers’ biggest rivals and after his side threw away a lead against a ten-man Celtic at Ibrox in March it was the beginning of the end. They looked to have bought well in January with several of Caixinha’s big money imports like Kranjar and Pena leaving but with Jamie Murphy, Jason Cummings and Greg Docherty arriving, but the likes of Russell Martin flattered to deceive.
Two heavy defeats to Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi final and Premiership proved the final straw for Murty. Legendary Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard was announced as next season’s manager but it wasn’t enough to steady the ship and they couldn’t claim second from Aberdeen.
Gerrard will have the opportunity of European football once again and they will need a big improvement.
