Rangers Turn to Hearts Boss McInnes After Snubbing Them Seven Years Ago

Derek McInnes finds himself in an extraordinary position of power as Rangers prepare to approach the Hearts manager they weren't good enough for seven years ago.

With Danny Röhl on the verge of joining RB Salzburg, Rangers are scrambling to identify their next manager after just eight months of the German's tenure. Their primary target is the man who transformed Hearts into genuine title contenders and rejected Rangers when they came calling in 2017.

How the Tables Have Turned: McInnes Now Holds the Power

The irony is inescapable. In 2017, McInnes was managing Aberdeen when Rangers approached him to replace Pedro Caixinha. He assessed the situation at Ibrox and decided to stay put.

Now, after guiding Hearts to their closest title challenge in 66 years, McInnes is Scotland's Manager of the Year and the hottest property in Scottish football. Rangers need him far more than he needs them.

McInnes's Remarkable Hearts Transformation

Since arriving from Kilmarnock in summer 2025, McInnes has revolutionised Hearts:

• Took them to second place in his first season
• Led their first genuine title challenge since 1960
• Named Scotland's Manager of the Year within 12 months
• Only lost out on the championship on the final day at Celtic Park

The 54-year-old has proven he can compete with Scotland's traditional powers. His stock has never been higher, and Rangers know it.

The Shankland Factor

Rangers have already raided Hearts once this summer, signing captain Lawrence Shankland after the striker exercised his right to leave Tynecastle for free.

Now they're preparing to return for the manager who built the team around Shankland. The optics are brutal for Hearts supporters who watched their captain and potentially their manager join the club they pushed to the brink of the title.

Rangers' Managerial Merry-Go-Round Continues

Röhl's impending departure after just eight months continues a worrying pattern of instability at Ibrox. The German, who began his coaching career at RB Leipzig, was appointed in October but appears set to return to the Red Bull stable.

There is a rising sense in Glasgow that he will accept Salzburg's overtures, with a switch likely to happen within days.

This would mark Rangers' latest managerial change in a period of significant turbulence. Since Steven Gerrard left for Aston Villa in November 2021, the club has struggled to find stability in the dugout.

The Gerrard Question

Steven Gerrard has also been linked with a sensational return to Ibrox. The former Liverpool midfielder enjoyed success during his first spell, winning the 2020-21 title to stop Celtic's ten-in-a-row bid.

However, sources suggest McInnes is the primary target, with the board believing his recent Scottish Premiership experience gives him the edge over Gerrard, who has been out of management since leaving Al-Ettifaq.

What This Means for Hearts and Scottish Football's Balance

For Hearts, losing McInnes would be devastating. After coming within touching distance of their first title since 1960, they face the prospect of rebuilding without their manager and talismanic striker.

The Edinburgh club does have one significant advantage: the involvement of Tony Bloom and Jamestown Analytics has transformed their recruitment and profile. This data-driven approach helped identify the players who nearly delivered the title.

Hearts' Next Steps

Should McInnes depart, Hearts will need to act swiftly:

• Utilise Bloom's analytics network to identify a replacement
• Maintain momentum from their best season in decades
• Prove they can sustain success beyond one magical campaign

The Wider Scottish Football Impact

McInnes potentially swapping Hearts for Rangers would represent one of Scottish football's most dramatic managerial moves. It would shift the balance of power and raise questions about competitive integrity when clubs can simply poach their rivals' best assets.

For neutral observers, the subplot adds spice to an already compelling title race. The manager who nearly ended Hearts' 66-year wait could now be tasked with stopping them from going one better.

What Happens Next

Rangers must first finalise Röhl's departure to Salzburg, which sources indicate could happen within days. Only then can they formally approach Hearts about McInnes, though informal contact may already have been made.

McInnes faces the biggest decision of his career. Does he remain loyal to the Hearts project that has revitalised his reputation, or does he take the Rangers job he turned down seven years ago? This time, he holds all the cards.