Issame Charai, the recently appointed assistant manager of Scottish football club Rangers FC, has stepped up to take charge of the team following the sacking of head coach Philippe Clement. The decision was confirmed by Rangers FC on Sunday, marking the end of Clement's 16-month tenure after the team's disappointing performance, including back-to-back defeats and elimination from the Scottish Cup.
"Rangers Football Club can confirm it has tonight parted company with men’s first-team manager, Philippe Clement," said the club in their official statement, which left fans eager for news about the future direction of the team. With Charai overseeing training sessions starting Monday, the pressure is on him to prepare the squad for their upcoming match against Kilmarnock on Wednesday night.
Charai, who joined Rangers just last month as part of Clement's staff, is now the most senior first-team coach at the club, especially after the departure of assistant coaches Alex Rae and Stephan van der Heyden, who also exited following Clement's dismissal. According to reports, the club is working on assembling a temporary coaching team to lead them until they secure Clement's permanent successor.
Referred to by journalist Sacha Tavolieri, it seems Charaï is set to assume the mantle of interim manager effectively. "Charai will be leading training sessions starting Monday," he reported, explaining how the Moroccan will take charge of Wednesday's match.
Despite only recently being appointed as Clement’s assistant, Charai has certainly made waves with his coaching connections. Having led Morocco's Under-23 team to the African Cup of Nations title and gathered extensive experience managing at known clubs across Belgium and France, his appointment, though temporary, brings significant expertise at such a turbulent time for Rangers.
For the fans, Charai’s ascent to interim management may inject hope amid uncertainty at Ibrox, following the disappointing performance against St Mirren, which was the final straw for Clement. Observers note the importance of quick decisions to steady the ship for what remains of the season, as Rangers find themselves 13 points adrift of league rivals Celtic.
Although the club has not announced their plans officially, Charai's experience is expected to be integral as they navigate this challenging period. The absence of experienced assistant coaches under Clement, who worked alongside him during his time, puts Charai at the helm to guide the team through immediate challenges.
With significant changes on the horizon, former Rangers players like Neil McCann, Billy Dodds, and Allan McGregor have also joined the interim coaching setup to support Charai as he prepares the team for their next fixtures. The involvement of Rangers legends brings both familiarity and morale-boosting presence to players as they fight to turn things around.
Upon Clement's dismissal, Rangers Board Chairman Fraser Thornton confirmed they were already actioning plans for future management decisions. They are exploring candidates to fill the head coach role permanently, with suggestions indicating former manager Steven Gerrard being among the favorites for the position. Yet, with the club currently engaged in takeover discussions with the San Francisco 49ers consortium, this might delay appointing a new permanent manager.
The upcoming match against Kilmarnock will be pivotal for Charai. Facing pressure to achieve results quickly, the Moroccan coach aims to restore confidence and cohesion within the team as they target improvement on the pitch. His first test will be whether he can inspire the squad and return to winning ways as they confront what could shape up as foundational moments for the rest of the season.
Though international and national expectations rest heavily on his shoulders, Charai’s brief tenure could signal the beginning of new strategies at Ibrox, irrespective of the long-term processes underway for the club. With the eyes of fans and pundits alike watching closely, the next steps taken by Charai and his interim squad will be closely observed as Rangers strive for restoration and re-establish their foothold within the Premiership.