GLASGOW, Nov 29, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Michael Beale was named the new manager of Rangers on Monday as he left English Championship club Queens Park Rangers after just 22 games in charge to return to the Glasgow giants.
 
   Beale spent over three years at Rangers as part of Steven Gerrard's coaching team before leaving for Aston Villa alongside the former Liverpool captain in November 2021.
 
   During that time, Rangers won their sole league title since 2011 by stopping Celtic winning a historic 10th title in a row in the 2020/21 season.
 
   The 42-year-old was handed his first senior managerial role by QPR in June and a bright start saw him wanted by Wolves for their managerial vacancy last month.
 
   Beale rebuffed that interest but QPR's form on the field has suffered since with a five-game winless run meaning he leaves with the west London club seventh in the Championship table.
 
   He has signed a three-and-a-half year deal running to the end of the 2025/26 season.
 
   Rangers have a mountain to climb to prevent Celtic retaining the Scottish Premiership with the Hoops nine points clear at the top of the table.
 
   That gap saw Giovanni van Bronckhorst sacked last week despite taking Rangers to just their second European final in 50 years last season before missing out on the Europa League to Eintracht Frankfurt in a penalty shootout.
 
   Rangers also suffered the embarrassment of the worst-ever Champions League group stage performance as they lost all six games to Ajax, Liverpool and Napoli with a minus 20 goal difference.
 
   "I am hugely proud, it is a wonderful, wonderful football club, it is an institution," said Beale in a Rangers' statement.
 
   "For everyone that works here it is a huge privilege, but to be the manager of this football club, that is extremely special.
 
   "Some wonderful people have sat in this chair prior to me, and I am hugely proud to be the person sat here now."
 
   Beale will have over two weeks to work with his squad before the Scottish season resumes on December 15 when Hibernian visit Ibrox.
 
   Rangers chairman Douglas Park hinted he will be backed in the January transfer window after criticism from fans that Van Bronckhorst was not given enough money to spend to build on his side's European heroics last season.
 
   "Michael is a very exciting appointment for us, and his energy and ambition stood out both when he was here previously, and in the discussions we have had prior to him re-joining," said Park.
 
   "The board will support both Michael and (sporting director) Ross Wilson to make this appointment a success."