DANNY ROHL has opened up on not being ‘first choice’ to be the new Rangers manager, and broken his silence on what really happened during the recruitment process.
The German has been unveiled as Gers boss after a 15-day search for a new head coach in the wake of Russell Martin’s sacking.
At his first press conference today he was quizzed on Martin being hounded out by fans and grilled on reports that he had ruled himself out of the job last week.
The 36-year-old also spoke about how he wants his team to play and what supporters can expect.
He began: “I’m really looking forward to being part of this amazing football club.
“We know where we are at the moment and when you commit to this job, you know the demands.
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“That starts on Thursday with the first game.
“We want to win, we need wins and we want to turn around the position we are in at the moment.
“We are not happy and this is the reason why I am here. I have said before I was looking for an ambitious club and a club to win titles.
“This club has everything for those goals.”
Given his predecessor had to be sneaked out of the stadium via a police escort in what turned out to be his final game in charge, Rohl was asked if he has what it takes to turn things around where Martin couldn’t.
He said: “First of all, I think it’s important that my focus is on me as a person and what I can bring to this football club.
“My football and what I want to see on the pitch is intensity, sprints and togetherness. We play forward because we want to create chances and goals.
“We have to defend as a group much better, being aggressive in duels and I want our fans to go home and they like to come to games and watching entertaining and winning football.
“It’s important to understand the order.
“First, you have to win games.
“Then, you can speak about playing attractive football.
“If you do it in this order, then we can have togetherness with our fans again.”
Rangers initially met with former boss Steven Gerrard over a stunning return to Ibrox but negotiations broke down last weekend.
Rohl emerged as a favourite once Gerrard was out of the running but just a few days later he was reported to have pulled himself OUT of the race.
That came as the Ibrox board appeared to pivot to Kevin Muscat as their leading contender.
While not discussing the full details of what went on, Rohl insisted the two parties continued speaking behind the scenes – and soon he was the preferred candidate again.
He said: “From the first couple of days we had outstanding meetings together and there was immediately a great relationship between all of us.
“I felt the trust.
“Football sometimes is about timing.
“It’s a big, big pleasure for me that the club was looking for me and we were still talking (over the weekend).
“It’s the reason why I am here now.”
He added: “I understand this question of course but the crucial thing is that I’m here now.
“A lot of rumours came out that it was a no, it was a yes and it is difficult to understand.
“We never stopped the communication and that is why I’m here now.”
The former Sheffield Wednesday boss was then asked if he was concerned by the fact he wouldn’t be considered “first choice” by some.
He replied: “No.
“I will be honest with you guys, you can be the first, second or third choice but the important thing is that you win the next game.
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“It’s not a situation for me.
“I cannot tell you which choice I am but I am here, so that gives me the belief I was the first choice.”
DANNY ROHL – CAREER SO FAR
Playing career
- Played in German lower leagues for FC Zwickau (2007-08), FC Sachsen Leipzig (2008-09) and FC Eilenburg (2009-10)
- Was a defender in his playing days
- Gave up playing in 2010 to focus on university and coaching, studying sport science at the Leipzig University and doing a masters degree in game analysis at German Sport University Cologne
Coaching career
- Started working at RB Leipzig in 2010 as an analyst for the youth academy
- Promoted to assistant coach with youth academy in 2011
- Became performance and opposition analyst for RB Leipzig’s first team in 2014
- Appointed assistant manager of the first team under Ralph Hassenhuttl in 2017
- Followed Hassenhuttl to Southampton in 2018
- Moved back to Germany to become Bayern Munich assistant coach under Niko Kovac and later Hansi Flick
- Joined German national team coaching set-up under Flick in July 2021
- Appointed Sheffield Wednesday head coach in October 2023
- Saved Wednesday from relegation in his first season and led them to 12th-placed finish in second year
- Left Hillsborough in July 2025 amid financial and ownership struggles
Coaching record
P89, W34, D21, L34
Win percentage: 38.2%
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