Derek McInnes appointed Rangers manager: Kris Boyd believes club finally have right man in charge
Derek McInnes has been appointed Rangers manager on a three-year-deal; former Rangers midfielder led Hearts to second in Scottish Premiership last season; McInnes replaces Danny Röhl after his move to RB Salzburg
Wednesday 17 June 2026 19:59, UK
"Strong beliefs and confident in his own ability."
Just two of the reasons Kris Boyd believes Rangers have finally got it right with the appointment of Derek McInnes as manager.
The 54-year-old replaces Danny Röhl after guiding Hearts to second in the Scottish Premiership last season, eight points ahead of the Ibrox club.
- Transfer Centre LIVE! | Latest Scottish Premiership news
- Got Sky? Watch now on the Sky Sports app📱
- Not got Sky? Get instant access with no contract📺
- Download the Sky Sports app and follow your club
He was on the verge of taking charge in Govan in 2017, but opted to remain at Aberdeen for another four years before leaving by mutual consent.
McInnes led Kilmarnock back to the top flight at the first time of asking, then led them to fourth and back into Europe, before moving to Hearts to take them within minutes of an historic title-winning season.
"It's been a long time coming," Boyd told Sky Sports News.
"I'm absolutely delighted he's managed to get the job and he'll be looking forward to the upcoming season.
"He was very unlucky last year, he's shown that he is a good operator in Scottish football and Rangers are hoping he can continue to improve."
Right man for Rangers
McInnes is the club's sixth permanent head coach since Steven Gerrard, the last man to lead them to Premiership glory, left in 2021.
He is the first appointment from another Scottish top-flight club since Alex McLeish moved from Hibernian in 2001.
"I think we have a tendency in Scottish football to overlook our coaches," Boyd added.
"When you look at what Derek has done, even his Aberdeen team caused problems to Celtic for a number of years.
"He built something at Aberdeen, you only need to look at what was there before him and then what's happened after, and that stability he had at Aberdeen.
"He went to Hearts, and nobody thought Hearts were going to throw down the challenge they did and finish second.
"There's been a lot made of Jamestown Analytics and rightly so, but he stuck to his principles a lot of the time when you look at his team, the way he set up and the way he went about the business.
"It tells me he's confident in his own ability, he's not depending on anybody else.
"When you become the Rangers manager you need rhino skin, because you're going to be criticised right, left and centre - but you also have to have strong beliefs in what you're trying to implement.
"Over a period of time, Derek McInnes has been able to do that sort of thing."
'Big summer ahead'
Rangers' summer rebuild is already under way, with new CEO Jim Gillespie, executive director Fraser Thornton, technical director Dan Purdy and consultant Stig Inge Bjørnebye working with the coaching team to add to the squad.
Scotland international Lawrence Shankland was the first confirmed signing, joining from Hearts on a two-year deal with the option of a further 12 months.
Captain James Tavernier, the highest-scoring right-back of all time, left at the end of the season after 11 years at the club.
"I think he's got a big summer ahead of him because Rangers do need a squad overhaul. They do need to get a good five or six players into it," said Boyd.
"Derek has always made the best of the funds he's had available, he's been able to get and build a squad wherever he's been that has been able to challenge deep into the season.
"He has shown that he can recruit players that give him and his team the best opportunity to win games and he'll be hoping to continue that theme at Rangers."
Can McInnes bring back success at Rangers?
Rangers have only won the Scottish Premiership once since 2011, and managing just one Scottish Cup and one League Cup in the same period.
There is no doubt the new boss will be under pressure to deliver silverware in his first season.
"Rangers are still a huge football club, they underperformed last season and we're hoping that Derek McInnes is a man to take them back to winning trophies on a regular basis," said Boyd, who won six domestic honours with the club.
"Rangers do need to get back to winning trophies. It's been a long time.
"You would imagine there will be a large chunk of transfer money available for Derek to go and sign players. They will be hoping he can deliver that title.
"You could argue for Derek to finish second the amount of times he did with Aberdeen and then Hearts, it's like winning the league because of the financial power that Rangers and Celtic have had over the clubs that he's been at."
