Top 10 Greatest Rangers FC Managers of All Time
Rangers Football Club, also known as The Gers or The Light Blues, is a professional football club based in Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in March 1872 by four teenagers, it is the fourth-oldest club in Scotland. The team plays at Ibrox Stadium, which opened in 1929 and has a seating capacity of 50,987.
Rangers FC is the most successful club in Scottish football history, boasting 55 Scottish League titles, 34 Scottish Cups, and 27 Scottish League Cups. Notably, the club has clinched the domestic treble seven times. Internationally, it won the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1972 and was runners-up in the UEFA Cup and Europa League in 2008 and 2022, respectively. Besides the talented players, Rangers FC owes a huge part of these achievements to the brilliance and vision of some of its managers.
This article ranks the top 10 greatest Rangers FC managers of all time by their win percentages and legacies.
Bill Struth (1920–1954)
Considered one of Rangers’ greatest managers, Bill Struth had a significant impact on the club. He managed the team for over 34 years—from 1920 to 1954—winning 18 league titles, including five consecutive championships from 1927 to 1931. Struth also ended a 25-year League Cup drought in 1928 and led Rangers to its first treble in 1949.
After World War II, Struth added six more league titles, the Scottish War Emergency Cup, Victory Cup, Summer Cup, four League Cups, and 19 Glasgow Cups to Rangers’ trophy cabinet. In total, he won 73 trophies—more than any other manager in British football history.
Struth retired in 1954 at age 79 after managing 1,576 games with a 68.4% win rate. Rangers immortalized him when it named the Main Stand after him in 2005, and his iconic portrait now hangs in the trophy room, where 30 of the trophies he contributed are proudly displayed.
walter Smith (1991–1998, 2007–2011)
Walter Smith is widely regarded as one of the most successful managers in Rangers’ history. Across two spells, he led the team to 10 league titles, including the famous nine-in-a-row between 1989 and 1997. Under his leadership, Rangers also won five Scottish Cups and six League Cups. Smith’s tactical acumen was evident in his European campaigns, particularly the journey to the UEFA Cup Final in 2008.
Smith retired from management after his second spell in 2011, having managed 596 games with a win rate of 64.2%. Rangers fans honor his legacy, and his contribution to the club is considered second only to Bill Struth.
Graeme Souness (1986–1991)
Graeme Souness revolutionized the Rangers team during his tenure from 1986 to 1991. He brought a new level of professionalism to the club, winning three league titles, four League Cups, and a Scottish Cup. Souness is credited with restoring Rangers to the top of Scottish football, bringing in high-profile English players, and setting the stage for the nine-in-a-row era.
Souness managed 212 games with a win rate of 64.6% before leaving for Liverpool. His impact on Rangers is still felt today, as he laid the groundwork for future success.
Jock Wallace (1972–1978, 1983–1986)
Jock Wallace is remembered for his two successful spells as Rangers manager. In his first tenure, he led the club to two trebles in 1976 and 1978, winning three league titles, three Scottish Cups, and three League Cups. Wallace’s second spell was less successful but still saw Rangers win two League Cups.
Across both spells, Wallace managed 437 games with a win rate of 59.2%. He is revered for his tough management style and ability to bring out the best in his players.
Steven Gerrard (2018–2021)
Steven Gerrard revitalized Rangers during his time as manager, ending Celtic’s dominance by winning the 2020–21 Scottish Premiership title—Rangers’ 55th league title and its first in a decade. Beyond just the trophy, this win was personal for Rangers as it was able to reclaim its status as Scotland’s top club against its “Old Firm Derby” rivals after years of relegation.
While Rangers fans love to put in some betting action on their team, only a few would have wagered at the beginning of the season that Gerrard could pull the comeback and clinch the trophy. What’s even more impressive is that Gerrard’s Rangers went undefeated in the league that season, a remarkable achievement that restored the club to the top of Scottish football. Gerrard managed 193 games with a win rate of 64.8%. His success at Rangers paved the way for his move to the English Premier League, where he continues his managerial career.
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Willie Waddell (1969–1972)
Willie Waddell’s most significant achievement as Rangers manager was leading the club to victory in the 1972 European Cup Winners’ Cup. This remains the Rangers’ only major European trophy. Waddell also won a Scottish Cup and a League Cup during his tenure.
Waddell managed 166 games with a win rate of 60.8%. His contribution to Rangers goes beyond his managerial stint. He later became a highly influential figure in the club’s hierarchy, helping to rebuild Ibrox Stadium after the 1971 disaster.
Scott Symon (1954–1967)
Scott Symon was a highly successful manager for Rangers, leading the club to six league titles, five Scottish Cups, and four League Cups. He also guided Rangers to its first European final, the 1961 Cup Winners’ Cup, although they came out as runners-up.
Symon managed 635 games with a win rate of 65.1%. His ability to maintain Rangers’ dominance during a transition period for Scottish football cements his place as one of the club’s greatest managers.
David Meiklejohn (1947–1959)
David Meiklejohn is remembered for leading Rangers during a challenging post-war period. He won two league titles, three Scottish Cups, and two League Cups. Meiklejohn’s steady leadership helped Rangers navigate the difficult post-war years, maintaining the club’s competitive edge.
Meiklejohn managed 462 games with a win rate of 57.6%. The club honors his contribution to the Rangers and remembers him as a manager who upheld the club’s proud traditions.
Mark Warburton (2015–2017)
Mark Warburton played a key role in Rangers’ resurgence following its financial struggles. Taking over in 2015, Warburton led the club to the Scottish Championship title, securing promotion back to the Scottish Premiership. He also won the Scottish Challenge Cup and guided Rangers to the Scottish Cup final in 2016.
Warburton managed 82 games with a win rate of 65.9%. His tenure marked a significant turning point in Rangers’ recovery, laying the groundwork for its return to the top tier of Scottish football.
William Wilton (1899–1920)
William Wilton was Rangers’ first official manager and laid the foundations for the club’s future success. Under his guidance, Rangers won eight league titles and six Scottish Cups. Wilton also oversaw the Rangers’ first-ever league title in 1899.
Wilton managed 617 games with a win rate of 61.3%. His pioneering role as the club’s first manager makes him a significant figure in Rangers’ history.
Conclusion
Rangers FC’s rich history is marked by the exceptional contributions of its managers. From the foundational leadership of William Wilton to the modern-day success of Steven Gerrard and Philippe Clement, these managers have shaped the club’s identity and secured its place as a dominant force in Scottish football.
