Why Rangers Appointing This Manager Makes Perfect Sense: Who Is Kevin Muscat?
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Why Rangers Appointing This Manager Makes Perfect Sense: Who Is Kevin Muscat?

Why Rangers Appointing This Manager Makes Perfect Sense: Who Is Kevin Muscat?

A name that only the more discerning football fans will have come across, Kevin Muscat had plenty about him to remember. Though his stay in the English top flight was brief, the no-nonsense centre back plied his trade for clubs across the UK for a decade, and built up quite the reputation in the process.

Born in West Sussex, UK, of Maltese descent, and eventually earning 46 international caps for Australia, “Football’s Most Hated Man” provided quite the case study during his playing career - and now, the Australian manager appears on the brink of a return to one of his former clubs, competing for the empty Rangers hot seat with the likes of Danny Rohl and Sean Dyche.

So who is the man tipped to drag the Scottish giants back to where they belong? Why does he hold the unflattering moniker of “Football’s Most Hated Man”? And why did he drop off the face of the earth when he called it a day on his playing career?

Muscat's Playing Days

From early on, Muscat showed great promise as a central defender - coming through at Australian National Soccer League (NSL, the predecessor to the A-League) side Sunshine George Cross at the age of 16, his ability was quickly recognised. Leaving George Cross the next year, he moved to the Australian Institute of Sport, and made such an impression that he was awarded the Weinstein Medal as the Victorian Junior Player of the Year.

Already making waves, the Kevin Muscat story had begun.

A single season with Heidelberg United saw the centre-back's reputation grow further, and eventually, he appeared on the radar of South Melbourne FC, who, in taking a chance on the defender, would not be disappointed.

Winning four honours during his time with the club, Muscat’s tough-tackling, aggressive style was well-received by Melbourne fans, and although at times it would not be taken so well by rival supporters, he became a renowned presence in the league - the NSL’s toughest defender was not to be taken lightly.

Predictably, international clubs started to register their interest - in 1995, he trialled for Sheffield United, but initially decided to stay in his home country. However, just a year later, English second-tier side Crystal Palace came knocking to the tune of £35,000 in order to acquire Muscat’s services, and the offer was too good to refuse for the Aussie outfit.

Muscat took to English football quickly, and in his first season played a key part as the Eagles battled their way to the play-off final, where they would go on to beat his ex-trialist’s Sheffield United, re-establishing themselves as a Premier League side once again.

However, it quickly became clear that Muscat’s reputation of flying into tackles with little care for his target’s or his own welfare was significantly less popular in England than it had been on the other side of the world, and the Aussie came under heavy scrutiny from both fans and the media for his approach.

However, that didn’t stop Wolverhampton Wanderers from splashing £200,000 on him in the January transfer window of 1998, a move which saw Muscat return to the Championship (or what was then the First Division).

In five seasons at Wolves, Muscat’s reputation as a dirty player only shone brighter, and it is easy to see why - over the course of his career, the defender picked up 12 red cards and a whopping 123 bookings - and it was while at Wolves that he ended Matty Holmes’ career.

Holmes, playing for Charlton Athletic at the time, was the recipient of a shocking Muscat challenge that broke his leg. The tackle itself earned Muscat a deserved red card, but more startlingly, the break required four operations to save - at one point, doctors were worried they would need to amputate.

Still, Muscat remained a mainstay in the team, and after five years in orange and black, and 201 appearances, he headed to Rangers upon the expiry of his Wolves contract. In his single season in Scotland, Muscat and his side would win the treble, consisting of the Scottish Premiership, Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup.

Perfectly cut out for the physical side of the Scottish game, many were surprised the Australian didn’t stay longer, but Muscat left after one season, returning to the Championship with Millwall this time.

Once again, he proved a crucial presence at the back as Millwall went on one of the great underdog runs to finish as runners-up in the FA Cup, losing only thanks to a Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired Manchester United at the Millennium Stadium.

Now in his thirties, Muscat was in the twilight of his career, and after a two-year stint at Millwall, he finally returned home to Australia, ending his playing days at Melbourne Victory, where he would win the A-League twice.

From Dirty Defender to Tactical Genius

In the final two years of his career, Muscat acted as a playing assistant coach at Melbourne Victory, giving him an early insight into what a coaching career would be like. Thanks to a clause in his playing contract, Muscat acted as assistant coach for the club for two years after he hung up his boots.

Eventually, after Jim Magilton was dismissed for a poor series of results, Muscat was put in charge as caretaker manager for one solitary game, giving him his first taste of taking the helm at a club - he would win this game against the Newcastle Jets 2-1, in what would be a sign of things to come further down the managerial line.

Current Nottingham Forest boss Ange Postecoglou would take over from him, demoting him back to an assistant role, but after just one season, the Australian FA had seen enough to appoint Postecoglou as manager of the national team.

This opened the door for Muscat, and eventually, he was named as the Europa League winners’ successor. Taking over during the 2013/14 season, his first campaign as head coach was nothing special.

However, in his first full season of management, Muscat did the unthinkable and won the A-League Premiership/Championship double, emphatically validating that he had what it took to be a successful manager.

Though no more titles followed, Muscat continued to impress as the man in charge, and eventually, Postecoglou introduced him to the national team set-up ahead of the 2017 Confederations Cup.

For three years, Muscat stayed behind the scenes for the Aussie national team, learning both from Postecoglou and his opponents as he looked for his next break in the managerial world. Eventually, the break arrived in the form of Belgian side Sint-Truidense in 2020.

However, things did not go to plan for Muscat, and just six months after taking the role, he was fired due to the team's poor form. Nevertheless, the Aussie did not let this setback affect him, and he quickly found himself in charge again, this time at the Yokohama F. Marinos.

Remarkably succeeding Ange Postecoglou yet again, Muscat took the Marinos to the J1 League title at the first time of asking, scoring 70 goals in the process, and boasting a goal difference 12 better than any other side in the league.

With interest once again growing abroad, Muscat’s next move saw him leap across the East China Sea to take charge at Chinese Super League side Shanghai Port in 2023 - and to barely anyone’s surprise, Muscat once again made an instant impact.

Still in charge in Shanghai, Muscat is on the brink of leading them to back-to-back CSL titles, having won the title at the first time of asking in 2024, whilst also adding a Chinese FA Cup to their trophy cabinet the same year.

This season, they sit two points clear of the chasing pack with four games remaining, and it would shock one if Muscat’s side held their nerve and delivered their fourth league title in their history.

Clearly Kevin Muscat has some serious managerial talent, and it was only a matter of time before he became linked with a mainstream European club. With Rangers dwelling at an all-time low, having an ex-player take charge could be exactly what they need, and with the Australian’s track record, there could be a remarkable turnaround in store for the Scottish top flight.

What Can Muscat Bring to Scotland’s Fallen Giants?

Rangers have had an unbelievably bad start to the 2025/26 campaign - they were thumped 9-1 on aggregate by Club Brugge in their bid to qualify for the Champions League, failed to emerge victorious from any of their opening five league games, and have just five competitive wins in total since July, when their qualifying campaign began.

Former Southampton boss Russell Martin simply could not create a cohesive unit at the Ibrox Stadium, and just 17 games into his tenure, the Englishman was given the sack. Both Steven Gerrard and Danny Rohl have been heavily linked with the job opening, but both have removed themselves from the discussion, leaving the path virtually clear for Muscat.

His only serious competition comes in the shape of Mr 4-4-2, Sean Dyche, and while the former Burnley coach would certainly add some stability, Muscat’s management style offers a more attractive, attacking-minded approach.

On each of the three occasions Muscat has led a side to a league title, they ended up as comfortably the league's top scorers each time, while on two occasions they also boasted the fewest goals conceded.

It seems that Muscat has a well-balanced system that can prove equally devastating in attack as it can be solid in defence, both traits which so far this season have deserted Rangers.

Moreover, although he was a devil to face in his playing days, Muscat is reportedly very pleasant off the pitch, and has a good sense of man management - the importance of creating a united group as a manager is unmatched, and with his dual personalities of polite and prickly, he seems to immediately garner the respect of all those playing under him.

Part of the Rangers side that won the treble back in 2004, fans of the club would also welcome him, as he became an immensely popular figure for the club in his short stint there - he always gave 100% and never shied away from a tackle, two qualities the Scottish fans love more than any other.

Biding his time and slowly building up an impressive CV in obscure leagues where he was under little to no media scrutiny, it seems Kevin Muscat’s time to test his hand at top-level management has finally arrived. There is no guarantee that he will get the job, but with so many tactical and off-field approaches going in his favour, it is hard to name a candidate more worthy than the Australian.

Football’s most hated man may have cooled off since leaving the pitch for the final time, but make no mistake - the former Palace, Millwall, Wolves and Rangers hardman has a ruthless streak to match any manager, and woe betide any plucky opponent that gets in his way.

Benji Kosartiyer
Journalist

Harry Pascoe

Lead Writer

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